Cauvery: Karnataka to file original suit, SLP

Bangalore, Apr 13: The Karnataka Government will file an original suit and Special Leave Petition before the Supreme Court against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) within this week, Water Resources Minister K S Eshwarappa informed the Legislative Council today.

Replying to a discussion on a resolution moved by Leader of the Opposition H K Patil on the verdict, he said that taking into consideration the State advocates' suggestions, the Government had decided to file an original suit and SLP before the apex court.

Besides, the State Government would also file a petition before the Tribunal, seeking clarifications on certain portions of the Award.

Mr Eshwarappa said the State Government was committed to exploring all possible avenues, including filing a petition before the Tribunal under the Inter-State Water Disputes Act and urging the Centre to formulate guidelines for the 2002 National Water Policy announced by the Union Government.

The Minister said the Tribunal had allocated water to irrigate 18.8534 lakh acres of land as against its demand of 25.2784 lakh hectares. The Tribunal had allocated 251 TMC FT of water as against the State's requirement of 381 TMC FT, besides reducing the irrigation area of over two lakh acres, proposed to be taken up under the lift-irrigation system in Kabini, Periyapatna, Hemavathi, Kamasamudra, Huchanakoppalu, Arkavathi and Iggalur projects.

The Tribunal had pronounced its verdict on the decades-long water row on February five and had allowed 90 days time for the States concerned to file appeal. Karnataka rejected the award, stating that a lion's share of the waters had been given to the lower riparian State of Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu too had decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court, seeking certain clarifications.

Earlier, moving the resolution, Mr Patil came down heavily on the Tribunal members and alleged that the award was unscientific, biased and lacked national approach. ''This award is not a result of jurisprudence consideration, but a product of compromise,'' he alleged. He said the State had demanded 27 TMC FT of water to Bangalore to meet the drinking water requirements of the city and the Tribunal, while rejecting the State's plea, had advised the State to make up with the flowing drainage and sewage water. The observation of the Tribunal on the drinking water requirements had violated human rights and the National Water Policy, which accorded top priority to drinking water needs, besides hurting the sentiments of the people.

Mr Patil took exception to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy trying to hold talks with his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi on the issue and getting snubbed by the latter. He condemned the attitude of Mr Karunanidhi, speaking lightly of Mr Kumaraswamy for having attempted to hold talks.

Later, Mr Patil moved the resolution, stating that the verdict was not in the interest of the people and farmers in the Cauvery delta region and the State was not in a position to implement it in its present form. It urged the Union Government not to notify the award until it came out with proper guidelines on the National Water Policy and settled all inter-state water disputes. The resolution urged the State Government to continue its constitutional and legal battles until justice was meted out to Karnataka.

The resolution, seconded by JD(U) floor leader Dr M P Nada Gouda, was passed by the Council unanimously. A similar resolution was earlier passed by the Assembly.

Earlier, Congress members V S Ugrappa, JD(U) members Basavaraj Bommai and Dr Nada Gouda, JD(S) member Srikante Gowda and Independent member Marthibbe Gowda participated in the discussion.

UNI

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