Karnataka CM against Cauvery mgmt board

Says CMB is not needed as there is a Supervisory Committee, headed by the Union Water Resource Secretary monitoring water release from the Cauvery

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today opposed the formation of Cauvery Management Board (CMB) as sought by his Tamil Nadu counterpart Jayalalithaa when she met Prime Minister Narendra Modi earlier this week.

Siddaramaiah said, civil appeals against the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal filed by riparian Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala are still pending in the Supreme Court and as such no move should be made to form CMB.

Another interim application filed by Tamil Nadu, seeking constitution of the board was also pending and merged with civil appeals, he told reporters on sidelines of a function to lay foundation stone for the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the premises of Vidhana Soudha, here.

“I read in the media the Centre has asked officials to prepare a draft note following Jayalalithaa’s appeal. This is a very serious issue. We strongly oppose formation of any such board till the court cases are decided,” he said.

Siddaramaiah said, the CMB is not needed as there is already a Supervisory Committee, headed by the Union Water Resource Secretary monitoring water release from the Cauvery after the final verdict was given by the Tribunal in 2007. He said, he had also discussed the Cauvery issue when he met Modi on Wednesday last.

The Chief Minister also expressed confidence that Union ministers from Karnataka would support and stand by the state in the fight against the constitution of CMB. Siddaramaiah said he has convened a meeting of the floor leaders in the state legislature on June 9 and the following day would lead a delegation to meet Modi in Delhi.

He has requested four Union Ministers D V Sadananda Gowda, H N Ananth Kumar, M Venkaiah Naidu and Siddeshwar to join the delegation. Siddaramaiah warned that drinking water supply to Bangalore could be possibly affected if the CMB was constituted.

Meanwhile, Major Irrigation Minister M B Patil said, the government would discuss the issue with its legal and technical teams to safeguard the state’s interest.

He said, the state’s senior counsel Fali Nariman had been in the city on a private visit. The government would discuss the matter arising out of the demand for constitution of the board.