Cauvery Meeting Fails, Tamil Nadu Rejects Karnataka’s Proposal

As Union Minister Uma Bharti’s meeting with K’taka and TN yields no result, read who said what on the crisis.

Karnataka’s proposal of a central team to assess water availability in both the states was rejected by Tamil Nadu. (Photo: Image Altered by The Quint)

The meeting over ongoing Cauvery dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chaired by Union Minister Umar Bharti ended without any result. While Karnataka proposed a central team that will assess water availability in both the states, Tamil Nadu rejected this proposal.

There is no outcome of the Cauvery meeting chaired by Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti.

Arvind Jadhav, Karnataka Chief Secretary

Union Minister Uma Bharti presided over a meeting convened by the Centre to find a political solution to the "impasse" over sharing of Cauvery water by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tamil Nadu PWD Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy took part in the meet which was held after Supreme Court ordered Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi to facilitate a meeting between the two states.

Uma Bharti expressed her disappointment over not being able to end the deadlock on the Cauvery issue. She said:

There was a request from Karnataka government to our ministry to form an expert committee to take view of the availability of water. I really appreciate that both the states are trying to find some solution, we have noted their views which will be sent to SC. If tension rises on Karnataka-TN border then I am willing to even sit on a indefinite hunger strike there.

Uma Bharti, Union Water Minister

A lot of fringe groups and elements have cashed in on the Cauvery river protests both in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (Photo: PTI)

Recovering from her illness at a hospital in Tamil Nadu, Jayalalithaa had dictated a speech to be read in the meeting.

The state of Karnataka has treated the orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court with utter contempt. Successive orders of the Hon’ble Supreme Court have been deliberately and systematically defied. 

Jayalalithaa, Chief Minister, Tamil Nadu

The Supreme Court on Tuesday, ordered Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu for the next three days. On 23 September, the two Houses of Karnataka passed a resolution to deny Tamil Nadu Cauvery water on the grounds of an impending drinking water crisis in major cities of Karnataka.

Speaking to a leading news magazine, Karnataka chief minister Siddharamiah has said that Cauvery dispute needs a political and not a legal solution and the Prime Minister must make the beginning.

The Supreme Court has asked the Centre to set up a Cauvery Management Board (CMB), an expert dispute-resolution body, to discuss the issue.

Forced bandhs and vandalism took place in Karnataka after Cauvery protests turned violent on 12 and 13 September in Bengaluru. Repeated uncertainty and protests have hurt Karnataka’s economy and image all over the world.