Only Talks Can Resolve Dispute'
Speaking to reporters here, Patel said neither a formula nor the Cauvery water tribunal's interim order could solve the problem unless both the state governments mutually endorse it.
He said at the last three meetings with his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi to discuss the issue, both had agreed to apportion the total yield in the Cauvery according to their needs, safeguarding the interests of the people of both the states.
Patel said during the talks both the governments had proposed several formulas but did not insist on them. Karnataka's suggestion to construct a reservoir near Mekedhatu to generate power might be finally agreeable to Tamil Nadu, he said.
On the criticism by opposition parties in the state that they were being kept in the dark regarding the Cauvery talks, Patel said unless something substantial emerged out of the talks, there was nothing to discuss with the opposition.
On the suspension of work on raising the height of the Almatti dam, Patel clarified that it was stopped due to heavy rain and floods. Once the rains stop and flow in the Krishna river subsides, the work will resume with the same vigour.
There is no question of stopping the construction work'', he added.
Replying to a question, Patel said representatives of the state government were not present at the inaugural function to release Krishna water to Chennai city, as a mark of protest.
He alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government had violated the agreement by expanding the original Telugu-Ganga project, which envisaged only supply of drinking water to the water-starved Chennai city.
Patel said his suggestion to share the excess Krishna water in scheme-b itself, instead of waiting till the year 2000 was accepted by Maharashtra but Andhra Pradesh was yet to respond.
The next round of talks between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the Cauvery water issue will be held after the local bodies elections, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi announced yesterday.
Talking to newspersons here, Karunanidhi termed as absurd allegations that water from the Krishna river under the Telugu-Ganga project was released to Chennai city in haste. He said loss of water due to seepage in the canal that brought water from a distance of 400 km was not unusual.
However, the problems will be solved soon and Chennai will continue to receive water, he added.
Karunanidhi said so far, more than 2000 Tamil refugees had arrived in the state from Sri Lanka. He said permanent political solution in this regard would be worked out with the help of the Centre.