PM discusses Cauvery issue with Karnataka leaders

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday held consultations with Congress leaders from Karnataka on sharing Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu. The leaders narrated to him the “grim” situation in Karnataka.

 

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of State for Railways K H Munniyappa and Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal met the Prime Minister at his office for an hour.

 

"We requested him to resolve the problem at the earliest. The situation is very grim. That is why we have asked the Prime Minister to look into the situation," Kharge told reporters after the meeting. He said the party leaders also explained to Singh the drinking water situation, particularly in Bangalore, Mandya, Hassan and Mysore as well as the standing crops which are facing water scarcity.

 

"Rainy season is over in Cauvery basin in Karnataka. Monsoon will begin in Tamil Nadu. The priority has to be drinking water, whichever is the state. The Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) has to place the factual situation. Based on that, the Prime Minister will take a decision," Muniyappa said.

 

A central team is visiting the two states and is likely to return on Monday. The team will report to CMC which is meeting on October 11 to decide on the quantity of water to be released by Karnataka after October 15.

 

The Cauvery River Authority, chaired by the Prime Minister, had recently directed Karnataka to release 9000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu between September 20 and October 15 on a daily basis. The future flow will be decided by CMC.

 

 

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