The Hindu Business Line : PM assures action on Cauvery issue

CAUVERY CALL: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, flanked by the Road Transport and Shipping Minister, Mr T.R. Baalu, the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, the Congress leader, Mr J.M. Haroon, and the DMK leader, Mr Durai Murugan, in New Delhi on Tuesday. — Kamal Narang

New Delhi , June 8

CUTTING across party lines, a delegation of 55 DMK and AIADMK Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, on Tuesday to discuss sharing of the Cauvery waters with Karnataka.

With the two States being at loggerheads over the past few years over the sharing of Cauvery waters, the major demand of the Tamil Nadu delegation was that Karnataka should release water to the Mettur dam on an emergency basis before June 12 for the State's summer crop, `Kuruwai'.

Talking to newspersons after the 30-minute meeting with the Prime Minister, the Petroleum Minister, Mr Mani Shanker Aiyar, said that Dr Singh would take a decision following his discussions with representatives from Karnataka.

The senior DMK leader, Mr Durai Murugan, who led the delegation, said that the Prime Minister had assured the Tamil Nadu MPs that he would try to persuade Karnataka to release water to the State for the benefit of farmers in the delta region.

While sympathising with the condition of the farmers, Dr Singh said, "It is essential that we reach a suitable settlement acceptable to all. It is necessary that distress is shared equitably so that no specific region suffers excessively.

The rain god has been kind this year and owing to an early monsoon and heavier than expected rainfall, it is likely that we may not face a situation of distress this year. I am discussing the matter on priority with the concerned Governments, including Karnataka."

Dr Singh said that he would listen to all points of view on the Cauvery waters both in Karnataka and in Tamil Nadu so that a fair solution acceptable to all is evolved.

More Stories on : Politics | Water | Tamil Nadu | Other States | Karnataka

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