UNI

Mangalore, Apr 27: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Friday reiterated that the Cauvery water sharing issue can be solved through dialogue better than any Court or Tribunal.

Talking to newspersons here, he said, "I will reiterate my appeal through you (media) to the senior leaders like Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, who are elder to me, to have mutual understanding based on the "actual facts" on the scientific distribution of available water through proper discussion, he added.

As the Cauvery issue was very sensitive, any final verdict either by the court or by the tribunal would not be able to satisfy the farmers and people of the both states. "In the better interests of both the states, it would be better to solve the issue through proper dialogue to live with mutual cooperation under the federal system, he added.

Replying a question on giving more powers to Lokayukta as sought, Mr Kumaraswamy said personally he favoured more teeth to Lokayukta.

He said he had also received a letter from Lokayukta Justice N Santosh Hegde. This demand of restoring more powers was pending since 1986, he added.

The chief minister said, however, a proper decision would be taken in the cabinet meeting. The Chief Secretary and other officials have asked for more time for giving more information to the government on the issue, he added.

Kumaraswamy said the government had acted and implemented on the report submitted by the Lokayukta on the complaint against the earring officials.

Commenting on the Congress leaders about his "Janata Darshan" and stay in villages, he remarked that it had become a habit for the Congress leaders to comment on his each and every action. Infact, his stay in villages has given more strength to the villages through the gramodaya scheme, he added.

He criticised the Congress leaders, who had not participated on the discussion on gramodaya scheme but have brought pressure to select the villages for the scheme suggested by them.

On sea erosion issue, he said he was not inclined to speak on the issue, since the code of conduct comes in the way. However, action would be taken before onset of monsoon, he added.

He said a proposal for finding a permanent solution to the sea erosion had been submitted long back to the centre but no positive response was received so for. If the centre failed to respond, the government would not hesitate to take up the project on its own with the available resources, he added.