Bengaluru: We were capable of settling the Ganga water sharing issue with Bangladesh, but we are yet to resolve the Cauvery river sharing issue between two states - Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, lamented former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda.
While speaking at the seminar ‘Water- the way forward’, organised by city-based NGO Vande Bharatham on Saturday, he pointed out that it was not easy to find an a solution to the Cauvery river water sharing issue and recalled his efforts to resolve it.
“When we held talks with the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Karunanidhi, to build a dam near Hogenal, he did not agree. When we requested Tamil Nadu government to build a dam to prevent all the Cauvery water which drains into oceans, there was no response,” Mr Gowda said. He lamented that Tamil Nadu even opposed a project to supply drinking water at Mekedatu, despite being assured that water will be supplied to them during distress, he added.
On the interim order directing Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, the former prime minister said, “In my experience we hardly see any rains in the months of September, October and November. There is no water in the state.” The Supreme Court has scheduled the next hearing of special leave petition filed by Karnataka on December 15, he said.
Rajendra Singh, popularly known as waterman of India, batted for community involvement to solve Cauvery imbroglio. He said, “People have to be taken into confidence and involved in decision making.”
