Karnataka rejects Centre's proposal on Cauvery

Karnataka on Wednesday rejected the central government's proposal to set up a Cauvery river authority.

Making a statement in the state assembly, Major Irrigation Minister K N Nage Gowda suggested that a coordination committee should be constituted to oversee the interim award's implementation. The award, given by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, directed Karnataka to release 205 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu.

Gowda said the three-member committee should be appointed by the Centre in consultation with the states concerned and should have its headquarters in Delhi.

He said the government had agreed to such a mechanism only to comply with the Supreme Court's direction, which had sought clause-by-clause comments/ objections to the Centre's draft scheme.

The state's reply had been sent to the Centre. The state felt that, at this juncture, there was no need for any scheme or authority as it would not only be redundant but also would complicate the proceedings before the tribunal, he added.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Thursday rejected Karnataka's suggestion. Tamil Nadu, he said, would urge the Supreme Court to constitute a tribunal to settle the dispute.

Karunanidhi said the Union government's draft proposal in this connection had endorsed Tamil Nadu's stand.

UNI