Karnataka CM proposes all-party meet on Cauvery water issue: Parameshwara

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has proposed an all-party meeting to discuss the Cauvery water dispute after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed the state to release water to Tamil Nadu, Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara said Wednesday.

Karnataka, however, is facing a water shortage and does not have enough water even to meet drinking water needs, Parameshwara said, adding that the government would take an appropriate decision on the directive.

The CWRC on Tuesday directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from Wednesday, amounting to about 4 TMC of water.

"When water is available, we will release it; there is no issue. But when we don't even have enough drinking water, how justified is it to ask us to maintain a flow of 3,500 cusecs?" Parameshwara told reporters.

The BJP has urged the state government not to release the water and to challenge the CWRC directive before the Cauvery Water Management Authority. It has also called for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue.

Parameshwara said protests by farmers and other organisations in Mandya and surrounding areas were understandable given the water shortage.

"Farmers are worried about the release of water when there is no adequate supply. They may apprehend that the government will agree to release the available water. Hence, they are protesting," he said.

On the possibility of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay visiting Bengaluru on Aug. 3 for talks, Parameshwara said the visit had not yet been confirmed.

"If he comes, we will discuss the issue with him too," he said.

Parameshwara also said Shivakumar was consulting legal experts and the state's team in New Delhi on the Cauvery issue, and a decision was likely to be taken after the discussions.

On Tamil Nadu's opposition to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu project across the Cauvery, Parameshwara said any objections should be raised before the court.

"Let them write. The PM is not above the court. Whatever the court says is final," he said.

Mekedatu is a proposed multipurpose project involving a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Bengaluru South district for drinking water supply and power generation. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, arguing that it could affect the state's water supply.

Parameshwara defended the possibility of talks between the chief ministers of the two states, saying such meetings were necessary to resolve interstate issues amicably.

"What is the BJP's problem if neighbouring states want to resolve the issue? Do they want states to keep fighting?" he said.

(Source: PTI)