The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : VS: State to appeal against Cauvery tribunal award

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

VS: State to appeal against Cauvery tribunal award

T.S. Ranganna

Not to do anything that will affect friendship with neighbours

Bangalore: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said on Sunday that his government would appeal against the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award as the quantum of water apportioned to the State fell short of the requirement it had sought.

Mr. Achuthanandan, who was here for a meeting with the information technology majors in Karnataka seeking their investment in Kerala, told The Hindu that he had held several meetings with the senior officials of his government after the award was announced and that the State would shortly file an appeal before the tribunal against the verdict.

Asked on what grounds his government would go before the tribunal, Mr. Achuthanandan said the officials had taken all steps to file an appeal, but refused to divulge the details before submitting it to the CWDT.

Mr. Achuthanandan said that Kerala enjoyed very good relations with its two neighbouring States and would not do anything that would disturb friendship by speaking on what the State would do on allowing Karnataka to utilise the share of water apportioned to it by the tribunal instead of Tamil Nadu.

The tribunal, in its award had asked Karnataka to release from its reservoir 30 tmcft of water, which was the share of Kerala to Tamil Nadu as the latter had not constructed any dam across the river. But, Karnataka, which also has a grouse against the tribunal for apportioning only 279 tmcft of water, was of the view that at least it could have allowed the State to utilise the same, till a dam was built by Kerala.

Asked whether Kerala would support the Maharashtra Government’s stand on its demand for the merger of Belgaum with that State against the recommendations of the Meherchand Mahajan Commission or whether he wanted a status quo, Mr. Achuthanandan declined to say anything on the issue saying that it was a disputed question.

The Commission had recommended that the areas south of Payasvini river, including Kasaragod, be transferred to Karnataka for reasons of continuity and language. On launching a joint patrolling of the forests at the tri-junction of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, he said only his Forest Minister could reply to it.

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