‘Base formula on ground realities’

An all-party meeting convened by Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar on Tuesday resolved to urge the Cauvery River Authority to evolve a distress formula based on ground realities for sharing water with Tamil Nadu. The CRA, headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, will meet on September 19. A consensus to this effect was reached at a meeting of floor leaders of political parties in the State Legislature. During the meeting, Shettar apprised the leaders about the state’s decision to release water to Tamil Nadu. He also sought their suggestion on the stand to be taken by Karnataka during the CRA meeting.

“Protecting the state’s interest is our topmost priority. Accordingly, we will argue before CRA,” the CM said.

“The Opposition parties extended full support to the government’s decision to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu on a daily basis till September 20, and on the stand to be taken during the CRA meet,” he told reporters after the meeting.

Shettar said, “Many taluks in the Cauvery basin have been declared drought-hit and drinking water is major problem. We will explain this to CRA. Depending on the outcome, we will decide on our next course of action.”

Further, he said releasing 10,000 cusecs will not have a major impact on Karnataka as the current natural outflow to Tamil Nadu is around 8000 cusecs.