Karnataka govt to convene all-party meet to discuss Tamil Nadu's Cauvery project

The Karnataka government will soon convene an all-party meeting to discuss the state's future course of action in response to Tamil Nadu's Cauvery-Vaigai-Gundar river-linking project, Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol told the Legislative Council on Tuesday.

Responding to demands from opposition MLCs, Karjol said that the meeting would be held at the earliest and the government would take suggestions from all leaders.

"We will not compromise on the issue. The Cauvery Water Management Authority has sought our opinion in the matter. We have made our stand clear. All the surplus water remaining after fulfilling its water sharing obligation to Tamil Nadu, belongs to Karnataka. We also have plans for using the surplus water," Karjol said.

Karjol's response came in the wake of protests against the project from opposition MLCs. They contended that Tamil Nadu appeared to have gone ahead with the project without necessary sanctions from the Cauvery Water Management Authority or the state government. Unless the state starts pressurising the Centre against this project, Karnataka will lose out on its share of excess water, the MLCs said.

Congress MLC CM Lingappa demanded that an all-party delegation should head to New Delhi. "Organise a meeting with the Prime Minister. Let us get a go-ahead from him for the Mekedatu project," he said.

When Karnataka proposed construction of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir, Tamil Nadu vehemently opposed it. "What is our government doing? It is not enough to submit a project report to the Centre. You have to ensure that the work begins soon," JD(S) MLC Srikante Gowda said.

The legislators alleged that the BJP's national leadership was playing politics in the wake of the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly polls where the saffron party hopes to make inroads.

Not satisfied with Karjol's response, Congress MLCs staged a walkout.

The issue also came up in the Assembly with JD(S) leader H D Revanna moving an adjournment motion on this issue. "11 districts in the Cauvery basin - Mandya, Mysuru, Madikeri, Chamarajanagar, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Ramanagara, Bengaluru Rural and Urban and Tumakuru - would face injustice because of what Tamil Nadu has set out to do," he said.