Kumaraswamy raises technical objections on CWMA with PM

Karnataka has raised objections before Prime Minister Narendra Modi on certain technical issues relating to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which were not in the interests of the state, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said here today.

"If the authority, in future, decides to ask Karnataka to release water once in 10 days in a month, then one can understand our condition. And if it decides which crops to be raised, I mean, it will not in the interest of the people of Karnataka," he said.

Kumaraswamy, who met Modi in New Delhi yesterday said, it was "impractical and implausible" to implement these directions.

"These are the issues I raised objections to during a meeting with the Prime Minister," he said.

Karnataka should have a say over timing of the release of the water, he said at a meet-the-press programme organised by the Press Club of Bangalore and the Bangalore Reporters Guild.

"There is a need for Karnataka to have a say over releasing of water to neighbouring states because there are some occasions when there will be less water in our dams compared to the neighbouring states, where the dams will be full due to rains," he said.

He said the Water Resources Ministry has responded positively to his request of changing two to three clauses on the constitution of the Authority before it begins operating.

Kumaraswamy also said he would send names of its nominees for the Authority though not before the technical issues raised by him are addressed.

"However, Karnataka will abide by the Supreme Court order relating to the sharing of Cauvery water with Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry," he said.

Kumaraswamy also sought Parliament approval for formation of the Authority.

"As per laws pertaining to inter-state water dispute, it is for Parliament to give approval to form the Authority, but the central government issued a gazette notification without debating it in the House," he said.

In a June 1 gazette notification, the Water Resources Ministry said it has framed a scheme constituting the Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Supreme Court order.

Karnataka has been opposing any move to form the Authority and had instead suggested formation of Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee.

Earlier, Kumaraswamy had written to Modi seeking redressal of issues related to cropping pattern before operating the CWMA and its regulation committee