TN, K'taka CMs to discuss Cauvery issue on Thursday

Announcement in response to Supreme Court's directive to meet and resolve the matter congenially

Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka will meet on Thursday to discuss the Cauvery issue. The announcement from the Tamil Nadu government comes a day after the Supreme Court on Monday asked both the Chief Ministers to meet and arrive at an amicable solution to the "sensitive" Cauvery water dispute.

In an announcement today Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that in response to the Supreme Court direction they (Tamil Nadu and Karanataka) will meet on November 29 at Bangalore.

On Tuesday, the bench of Justices D K Jain and Madan B Lokur said, "why can't the two Chief Ministers sit together? Give it a try, it is not impossible. We want you to meet in a congenial manner and discuss the issue in the larger interest of farmers from both states."

The court said that it is not possible for Cauvery River Authority (CRA) headed by the Prime Minister to meet, so the state governments should meet to find a solution.

"Try to find out a solution through give and take," the bench said, adding that "the chief ministers should not meet just for coffee but they should meet along with their experts to file a solution".

The bench urged both the Chief Ministers to have a meeting and posted the matter for directions on Friday.

- With inputs from PTI