The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Krishna-Cauvery panel terms tribunal verdict unacceptable

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 30, 2007
ePaper

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Krishna-Cauvery panel terms tribunal verdict unacceptable

Special Correspondent

Centre's intervention sought to set right `injustice' done to State

SOMBRE MOOD: The panel of speakers at a meeting convened by the Krishna-Cauvery Coordination Committee in Bangalore on Thursday to oppose the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. — Photo: K. Murali Kumar

BANGALORE: The Krishna-Cauvery Coordination Committee has criticised the delay by the State Government in taking steps to protect the interests of the State with regard to the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

At a meeting here on Thursday, the committee noted that even 53 days after the announcement of the award, the State Government remained "insensitive" to the sentiments of farmers of the Cauvery Basin in the State. The committee sought the immediate intervention of the Centre to set right what it termed the injustice done to the State by the tribunal.

Resolution adopted

The meeting adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Union Government not to gazette the final award of the tribunal. The resolution said the award had done "great injustice" to farmers in the State and was, therefore, unacceptable.

Speakers at the daylong meeting, including committee convener H.N. Nanje Gowda, the former Union Minister V. Srinivas Prasad, the former Chief Justice of the Karnataka and Kerala High Courts V.S. Malimath, the retired judge A.J. Sadashiva and the veteran journalist Patil Puttappa rejected the award and said it was unacceptable to the State.

They urged Parliament to constitute a committee comprising MPs from the riparian States, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to amicably resolve the dispute.

Mr. Sadashiva said the ground situation in the Cauvery Basin districts made it impossible to implement the award. In case the Centre went ahead with the gazette notification, MPs from the State should be ready to resign from Parliament and Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy should recommend dissolution of the Legislative Assembly. He called upon the people and leaders of the State to launch a "non-cooperation movement" against the Centre.

Mr. Nanje Gowda, a former Irrigation Minister, said the State Government was not ready with a strategy to resolve the dispute. "We do not want this Government if it has no concern for the farmers' interests," he said.

Dr. Malimath stressed the need for setting up an irrigation vigilance committee to advise the Government on policy matters. Keeping in mind the water requirements of the people of the State, he suggested that the Government continue its fight within the framework of the Constitution.

Mr. Prasad said Parliament in the next session should debate the pros and cons of the award for the basin States.

Mr. Puttappa said weak political lobbying had caused injustice to farmers of the State's Cauvery basin districts.

The committee also decided to continue its agitation till the State got its due share in the Cauvery waters.

Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (Puttanaiah faction) president K.S. Puttanaiah, Mandya Raitha Hitarakshana Samiti president G. Made Gowda and Krishna-Bheema Coordination Committee president P.S. Kalburgi were present.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Karnataka

News Update

Stories in this Section