From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Jun 25: Faced with Narendra Modi-led BJP government’s decision to constitute the Cauvery Management Board against Karnataka’s wishes and also compelling the HD Kumaraswamy-led JD(S)-Congress coalition regime to nominate its representatives, the State Government has decided to convene an all-party meeting in 3-4 days to explore all options, including legal, for safeguarding the State’s interest in the share of Cauvery waters.
The Centre’s "unilateral" decision to notify constitution of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on June 23.
It was decided to obtain views of all MPs from Karnataka, floor leaders of the both houses and leaders of political parties to explore options before the State, Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said after the meeting on Monday.
The State Government has already nominated Rakesh Singh, principal secretary, water resources, to the Cauvery Management Board (CWMA), the apex body which will have its office in New Delhi, and H R Prasanna Kumar, managing director of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited to the CWRC, headquartered in Bengaluru.
"Already damage done to the State by constituting two committees by the Centre", Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar told presspersons after the meeting.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara and experts and officials attended the meeting.
The authority’s mandate is to regulate the storage, apportionment of the Cauvery waters, supervision of operation of reservoirs, and regulation of water release with the assistance of the committee.
"The State has not violated any provisions of the (Cauvery Water Disputes) Tribunal in the past. We have respected the federal structure," Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that technical problems in the implementation of water-sharing formula has not been addressed by the Centre and the "mistakes" in the guidelines need to be corrected.