Cauvery row: Karnataka all-party delegation to meet Modi

Bangalore, June 9: An all-party delegation from

would meet Prime Minister

on Tuesday to convey the state's opposition to the setting up of

Management Board as demanded by Tamil Nadu to ensure implementation of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award.

"An all-party delegation will meet the Prime Minister. We have to convince Government of India that whatever (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) Jayalalithaa requested for the constitution of Cauvery Board should not be done," Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said after an all-party meet on the Cauvery row. Siddaramaiah objected to the formation of the Board on the ground that the appeals on the award were pending before the Supreme Court.

"It is not possible to constitute the Cauvery Management Board at this stage because the civil appeals are pending before the Supreme Court," he said. Siddaramaiah said the state was strongly opposed to the Centre's reported inclination to constitute the Board to ensure implementation of the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on water sharing among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.

The delegates will oppose the setting up of Cauvery Management Board

"I read news reports saying that the Centre was moving expeditiously on the water-related demands raised by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. It also circulated a draft Cabinet note to ministry concerned," he said. He contended that the interlocutory application filed by Tamil Nadu government, requesting the Supreme Court to give a direction to the Centre to set up the Board, is also posted along with civil application.

"There is also the supervisory committee in existence which is also constituted on the direction of the Supreme Court which is monitoring the implementation of the award of the Tribunal. Therefore there is no necessity at this stage to constitute the Cauvery Management Board," Siddaramaiah said.

Asked if he was worried about BJP getting political mileage out of the issue, he said: "It is not the question of politics -- advantage to BJP or Congress. State is paramount." Siddaramaiah said he has convened yet another meeting tomorrow in Delhi in which MPs and Union ministers from Karnataka will discuss the issue before meeting Modi.

PTI