Krishna writes to PM

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Saturday urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stop further release of Cauvery water from dams in Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.

Krishna, who is presently abroad on an official visit, has written to the prime minister stating that the situation in Karnataka is ‘grim.’

Not only the farmers in the Cauvery irrigated areas are worried about the fast depleting levels in the dams, but also the citizens of Bangalore fear shortage of drinking water, he has said.

“While the monsoon in Karnataka is practically over, Tamil Nadu is better placed with North East monsoon just setting in. There are bright prospects of availability of more than adequate water in the Cauvery basin in Tamil Nadu. I sincerely feel that the situation needs your immediate attention, if it is to be prevented from worsening,” he stated in the letter.

Interim report

Krishna has said that it would be better if the Central team could submit an interim report, before it submits its final report on October 20.

“The entire State is waiting with bated breath to get relief immediately, as otherwise, it would spell disaster for the entire population in the Cauvery basin in Karnataka,” he added in the letter.