BANGALORE: Terming the interim application (IA) by Tamil Nadu in the Supreme Court over the Cauvery water dispute “illegal”, Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene and check Tamil Nadu’s “provocative” behaviour.
“Tamil Nadu’s prayer before the Supreme Court is highly illegal and provocative.
Our government would tackle it both politically and legally,” Gowda announced in the Assembly while replying to the debate on the issue on Monday.
He also cautioned the Centre against getting influenced by Tamil Nadu’s “political clout”.
Accusing Tamil Nadu of raking up the issue, Gowda said his government was committed to protecting the interests of the farmers of the Cauvery basin in the state.
“We have taken the issue very seriously,” Gowda said.
Water Resources Minister Basavaraj Bommai described Tamil Nadu’s decision to approach Supreme Court as its ploy to stop Karnataka from using its legitimate share of Cauvery water.
“This is the fifth IA by Tamil Nadu.
By filing petition after petition, it (Tamil Nadu) wants to dilute the state’s twin demands of getting 468 tmc ft of water and expand its irrigation potential.
But we won’t allow it.
We are constantly in touch with our legal team,” the Minister asserted.
Bommai said Karnataka had released more than Tamil Nadu’s share since the Cauvery tribunal’s final verdict was passed in 2007, adding, “Tamil Nadu has no right to question how we utilise our share of water, once we release their share.”