Bengaluru: The state unit of BJP will impress upon the Union government not to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board, says state unit president Pralhad Joshi.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, he said the state unit would appeal to the Union government not to set up the Board as it would adversely affect the state's interests. "The Centre has not decided to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board. According to my information, there is no such proposal before the Union government," he added.
A senior leader said "the party, however, is taking the stock of the situation. We have already started gathering the opinion of experts regarding the pros and cons of constituting such a Board. We will protect the interests of the by stalling the constitution of the Board. We will not play politics in this issue, and will not compromise the interests of the state."
Sources in the party said if the Union government yields to pressure from the Tamil Nadu government and establishes the Board despite the case pending in the Supreme Court, the state unit would not be in a position to resist it publicly though Karnataka has elected the highest number of Members of Parliament from south India.
Following news of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government taking a decision to prepare a cabinet note for constituting Cauvery Water Management Board, the state unit of BJP has sought the opinion of legal and irrigation experts regarding the pros and cons of constituting such a Board.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has opposed such a move and appealed to the Prime Minister not to proceed further before the apex court decides the case. Meanwhile, Karnataka governor Mr H.R. Bhardwaj advised the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments to arrive at an amicable solution on the Cauvery water dispute.
“The dispute should not be dragged on for an indefinite period. There is truth in the state’s argument,” he said.
