BANGALORE: Cautioned by the legal team handling the Cauvery water row in New Delhi, Karnataka government on Saturday gave up its adamant stand and started releasing water to Tamil Nadu .

Chief minister Jagadish Shettar , who is on tour issued directions to release water from the KRS dam. The Supreme court on February 7 had directed Karnataka to release 2.44 tmc ft of water (130 cusecs) forthwith'' to Tamil Nadu. Shettar, who had rushed to New Delhi to meet the legal team headed by noted jurist Fali S Nariman was advised to abide by the order. However, Shettar after an all-party meeting here on Friday announced that Karnataka would file a review petition in the apex court next week.

Sources quoting Nariman said the CM during his meeting with the legal team was bluntly told: You have turned victory into defeat (deciding not to release water). Its practical stupidity on part of you people....''

Nariman is reported to have told the CM that Tamil Nadu's claims of samba crop withering had been exposed with the Central Water Commission 's experts team's report which said only 2.44 tmc ft of water was required as against the state's demand for 12 tmc ft of water for the remaining crop. The water released on Saturday will take 48 hours to reach Mettur.

Sources said it was blatantly unconstitutional'' on the part of opposition party leaders to advice the government against releasing water. If Shettar had refused to release water he would have had to face two consequences: court's contempt and in the extreme case the Centre invoking article 355/356 of the Constitution to dismiss the government for not carrying out the orders, they added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of farmers led by former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa were arrested when they tried to storm the KRS dam site protesting the water release. All were later released at Mandya, while Yeddyurappa was released at Maddur town from where he cut short his week-long padayatra from Mysore to Bangalore taken to protest against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award notification by the Centre.

