CM prepares detailed Cauvery papers on Gowda’s advice

After reacting sharply to the Centre’s decision to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy has decided to take a more cautious approach towards finding solutions to the contentious river water dispute.

On advice of his father and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, Kumaraswamy has decided to bring out a document detailing the entire history of the Cauvery issue, spanning over 100 odd years.

The document will be submitted to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Parliamentarians of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu when it is readied.

Taking exception to the Centre’s decision to form the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) without consulting Karnataka or naming representatives of the state, Kumaraswamy had on Saturday stated that the Centre’s “unilateral decision” had hurt the state’s interests.

The same day, he is said to have consulted Gowda, who has handled several water disputes over the years. During the two-hour meeting, Gowda is said to have counselled Kumaraswamy to prepare a document on Cauvery so that the matter can be discussed in Parliament.

In addition to tracing the history of the river water dispute, the document will also contain proceedings that have taken place in Parliament, the state legislature and courts, over the years. Following his advice, Kumaraswamy held a meeting with Advocate General Uday Holla and irrigation expert Venkataraman at his J P Nagar residence on Sunday.

According to the chief minister’s office, the document will be readied shortly and sent to the prime minister and the MPs of both states.

Speaking to reporters, Gowda said that it was important for the matter to be discussed in the Lok Sabha. “Before a board or an authority is set up for river water sharing, the matter has to be discussed in detail in the Lok Sabha. The rule mandates the same. Recently, BJP leader and Union Minister Ananth Kumar, too, had said that matters pertaining to the dispute should be discussed in Parliament. Hence, I have advised that a document be prepared so that the prime minister and the parliamentarians get a better understanding of the issue. I will try and ensure that Karnataka retains as much water as it can,” he said.