Krishna, Cauvery projects: Karnataka in talks with legal eagle Nariman
Bangalore: In a bid to hasten pending irrigation projects in the Krishna and Cauvery river basins after a recent Supreme Court verdict brought relief to Karnataka, the state government has decided to hold consultation with legal experts, including the state’s counsel Fali Nariman on January 16.
Speaking to reporters here on Monday, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said that work on pending projects has to be taken up on a war footing and the state will obtain legal opinion on which all projects can be taken up.
The Supreme Court in a judgement, has rejected Tamil Nadu’ plea on stalling the Shivana Samudra and Mekedatu projects of Karnataka.
The court has said that it would discuss the matter again and the issue may come up for hearing on January 15, along with the main petition.
The state government has not yet decided how much of water storage can be planned at the Mekedatu project. If more water is stored, it can be pumped to Bangalore also, Jayachandra said.
Besides, the state was not clear on the observation made by the Supreme Court over 12 clarifications sought by the government.
“In the Assembly, we had said that a meeting of legal team, including Nariman and House floor leaders would be held in Bangalore. The government will first have a round of talks and decide on the date for the meeting with floor leaders,'' he said.
“If we get clearence from the legal team, the work in both Cauvery and Krishna basins has to be taken up on war footing,'' he added.
Meanwhile, the state government is planning a meeting of law department and health department officials to discuss the issue of adulterated milk.“Recently, the Supreme Court had made observations on the adulteration of milk with Urea, which enhances the fat content in milk. The Supreme Court has asked the state governments to bring in legislation to contain adulteration,'' he said.
The government will issue orders on sand policy within the next two days. Jayachandra said that there were two more issues, which include black sand mining in Karwar and deep sea sand mining in coastal areas. Black sand is used in Goa only and the two issues have to be incorporated in the new sand policy, he added.
