Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda said on Sunday that Tamil Nadu was utilising the Cauvery river water for 18 lakh hectares of land, instead of the stipulated 12 lakh hectares.

He was speaking at a function in the city. The former prime minister said that the lawyers representing the state in the Supreme Court should have highlighted the over-utilisation of water by the neighbouring state during their arguments.

Gowda said that Water Resources Minister M B Patil was making some contribution in the state’s fight in the dispute by making trips to Delhi. He suggested that Law Minister T B Jayachandra, who was present at the function, to accompany Patil during his trips to Delhi, so as to hold discussions with the state’s lawyers with regard to the Cauvery dispute.

He defended the resolution passed by the state legislature on Friday for utilising Cauvery water only for drinking purposes and reiterated that the step would not attract contempt proceedings against the government.

Referring to Tamil Nadu’s objections to releasing water to farmers in the command area of the Hemavathi reservoir, he warned that the region may turn into a desert some day. He said it had been decided to feed six lakh hectares of land when the dam was constructed.