Final verdict out on Cauvery water, Karnataka wants review

New Delhi, Feb 5 (UNI) Seeking to settle a century-old water dispute, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) today allocated a lion's share of 419 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu and apportioned the rest among two other states and a Union Territory, even as Karnataka decided to file a review petition before the CWDT.

The CWDT, which ordered setting up of a Regulatory Authority to oversee the apportionment, asked Karnataka to release 192 tmcft of water at Biligundlu, the last point of the river in the state, to Tamil Nadu.

Experts feel that this quantum of release would mean at least 12 tmc of additional water to Tamil Nadu as this area below Biligundlu and Mettur Dam would generate around 25 to 40 tmc of water.

The Tribunal which had limited command area to 11.2 lakh acres for Karnataka lifted the cap by allowing the state to use 270 tmcft of water in a year. Besides the major share to Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry will get 30 and 7 tmcft respectively.

The nine-page operative portion of the over 1000-page order read out by CWDT Chairman N P Singh has also fixed a tentative monthly schedule during a normal year, breaking the releases into ten daily intervals by the Regulatory Authority which has been asked to monitor the working of monthly schedule with the help of states concerned and Central Water Commission for a period of five years.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said his government is committed to filing a review petition before the Tribunal to safeguard the interests of the state. Making a suo motu statement, he said the issue was discussed with Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and a Cabinet meeting would be held tomorrow to discuss the verdict in detail.

Mr Kumaraswamy urged people not to get emotional and disrupt peace following the verdict. ''I cannot react completely without a judgement copy in my hand,'' he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M Karunanidhi, welcoming the final award, hoped Karnataka would implement it in toto.

Mr Karunanidhi, who was in New Delhi for discussions with Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia to finalise the State's plan outlay for 2007-2008, said he would convene an all party meeting to discuss the verdict.

Senior politicians, including State Public Works Minister Duraimurugan and TNCC president M Krishnasamy, also hailed it as a ''grand success'' and a ''just verdict'' that would wipe out the miseries of the farmers.

However, Leader of Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Council H K Patil said the Tribunal, which pronounced its final verdict, has done injustice to Karnataka. He demanded the Chief Minister to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the verdict on the State and find a solution to set right the ''injustice'' meted out to the farming community in the State.

State Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy also termed the award as ''grave injustice''.

Meanwhile, about 20 protesting farmers were arrested in Bangalore as a precautionary measure. Road blockades were put up in Maddur, Chennegowdannadoddi, Kalahalli and Budhanur.

Cauvery Hitarakshana Horatta Samiti, spearheading the water agitation in Karnataka, decided to hold a meeting tomorrow to analyse the verdict. The Karnataka Rakshana Vedike also held protests in various places, including Mysore.

In Chamarajanagar district bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, buses from both the States were not allowed to cross the border.

Tamil channels were not aired in Chamarajanagar town. A bandh was observed in Kollegal town.

Shops and business establishments in some pockets of Bangalore downed their shutters. Schools declared a holiday in the afternoon.

The Cauvery Family, forum of delta farmers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, will also discuss the final award at a meeting to be held this month-end or in the first week of March.

UNI