Cauvery row: All-party meet called to explore options

The H D Kumaraswamy government has decided to convene an all-party meeting comprising Karnataka’s legislators and MPs to explore the legal options before the state in resolving the Cauvery issue.

Chief Minister Kumaraswamy on Monday convened an emergency meeting of his senior Cabinet colleagues and legal experts to chart out the future strategies to be adopted the state to counter the Centre’s decision to notify the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar, who was present in the meeting, later told reporters that the chief minister had convened the meeting following reports that the CWMA is holding its first meeting on July 2 in New Delhi.He said that since Karnataka had been singled out by the Centre, it had become inevitable for the state to register its protest, both insie Parliament and in the court.

“Karnataka has to be represented properly in Parliament and in the court. We have to take decisions before the next Parliament session is convened. The chief minister had not wasted any time in either writing to the prime minister or meeting him in this regard. He had sought justice. But, the Centre issued the notification in haste, damaging Karnataka’s prospects,” he said.

Shivakumar said that the all-party meeting would be convened in the next three to four days.

Officers appointed

The minister also said that Karnataka had appointed two officers in “protest” to the CWMA and CWRC.

While principal secretary, Water Resources department, Rakesh Singh had been nominated as a member of the CWMA; managing director, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited, H L Prasanna had been nominated as a member of CWRC.

“Karnataka has nominated two officers to CWMA and CWRC in protest to block further damages to the state. It’s better to have a representative instead of suffering the consequences later. We do not want to leave any options open,” he added.

Shivakumar also said the government was preparing a document on Cauvery. “Karnataka MPs, cutting across party lines have to put up a fight in Parliament over the issue. It’s the government’s bound duty to guide and brief the MPs. They need to have a proper background on the Cauvery’s history so that the state’s stand is clarified effectively in Parliament.”