K'taka asks PM to review CRA decision by Oct 12

 Karnataka today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to review by October 12 the order of Cauvery River Authority headed by him directing the state to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

In a letter to Union Water Resources Minister P K Bhansal, copies of which were released to the press, state Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai noted that the Prime Minister, who is also chairman of CRA, has the power to review decision under Inter-State River Water Disputes Act.

Karnataka filed a petition seeking review of the September 19 CRA order and also to keep it in abeyance till review was taken up, but so far no decision has been taken on the matter despite its three reminders, he said.

"The power vested to take a decision in the absence of a consensus will give the power to review also," he said.

The Supreme Court in its October 8 order has clearly mentioned that its order of September 28 shall not be an impediment for the chairperson of CRA to take his own decision on the review petition filed by Karnataka.

"Therefore, I kindly urge to take up this matter as a water resources minister and a CRA member to the Prime Minister and appeal to him to take a decision before October 12, since the IA's (interlocutory application) of both the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu will come up for hearing tomorrow," Bommai said.

Former prime minister H D Devegowda took exception to DMK leader M Karunanidhi's statement calling for imposition of President's rule in Karnataka to solve the Cauvery issue.

"It is unfortunate that those who opposed article 356 are advocating it. Such a trend is detrimental to federal structure of the nation. It is also unfortunate that we need to seek permission of others to get drinking water," Gowda said reacting to the issue at a function held in JDS office.

KPCC president G Parameshwara in Hubli slammed the Tamil Nadu leader's statement saying, "they should know that Tamil Nadu is also part of the federal structure in the country".