'K'taka not to accept Cauvery award at any cost'

Bangalore, Feb 15: Terming the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on sharing the river waters as a ''death blow'' to Karnataka, State Water Resources Minister K S Eshwarappa today declared on the floor of the Legislative Council that the State Government will not accept it at any cost.

Replying to a discussion on the Tribunal's final award under Rule 68, he asserted that the Government was ready to sacrifice anything to safeguard the interests of the State and its farming community, and said the Government would relentlessly wage a legal battle against the verdict.

The Minister said the entire people of the State have resented the ''unfair'' verdict of the Tribunal and the Government would stand by them. The Union Government and the authorities concerned should take note of it and take all measures to undo the ''injustice''.

Mr Eshwarappa claimed that the Tribunal had, in its 1991 interim report, directed Karnataka to release 205 TMC FT of water to Tamil Nadu, but the final verdict had stipulated the release of about 40 TMC FT over and above the interim order which was neither feasible nor acceptable to the State.

He said the Government would convene an all-party meeting, for which farmer leaders and irrigation experts would also be invited to discuss the award and evolve a firm stand on the issue. ''The Government will abide by any decision taken at the meeting.'' Notwithstanding the impact of the Tribunal award, the State Government would make all efforts to desilt over 1,363 tanks coming under the Cauvery basin in the State and complete all the ongoing irrigation projects. The Government would also take the initiative to repair and strengthen the dams and reservoirs in the basin to prevent any seepage of water, he said.

Earlier, various members, including Mukyamanthri Chandru, Vimala Gowda and Aravinda Limbavalli (all BJP), B Gurudev, Chidanand and Chickmadu (all JD-S) and Independent member Arun Machaiah expressed concern over the ''unjust'' verdict.

UNI

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