Cauvery row: K'taka keen on protecting interests

Kollur, Apr 23: Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today assured that the JD(S)-BJP coalition government in the state was committed to protecting the interests of farmers of the state in the vexed Cauvery water dispute.

He declined to comment when reporters asked him about the delay caused in giving the final award in the issue following the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's directing the Centre to appoint a three-member Experts Committee to go into the issue of crop pattern and water requirements of the beneficiary states.

He merely said ''I don't want to comment on the issue until I get all information.'' Mr Kumaraswamy said senior advocates were representing the state's case and ''I am waiting for details.'' To a query, he said enough budgetary allocation had been made for the speedy completion of the much-delayed Varahi irrigation project as the government was aware that the survival of the sick Bramhavar Co-operative Sugar Factory depended on it.

He assured that he would hold consultations with both Finance Minister B S Yediyurappa and Sugar Minister Jagadish Shettar about the revival of the Factory.

Asked about Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council H K Patil's demand for filing a review petition before the Supreme Court to protect the interests of farmers who had lost their lands due to the Bangalore-Mysore Infrastructure Corridor Project, he said 0if the previous Congress government had taken proper care while dealing with the project, the present situation would not have arisen.

After causing enough damage to the land owners, the Congress leader was advising his government now, he ridiculed.

He assured that after obtaining the Supreme Court's orders on the issue, he would make all efforts to protect the interests of the land loosers within the legal framework.

Referring to the naxalite activities in the state, particularly in the forest areas of Udupi district, Mr Kumaraswamy said his government would soon take a firm decision on tackling the menace.

The Chief Minister arrived here along with a few of his cabinet collegues and party MLAs in a bus en route to Hosnagar to attend Sri Ramayana Mahasatra celebrations at the Sri Ramachandrapura Mutt. He offered special pooja at the famous Sri Mookambika temple here.

UNI