Cauvery row: Centre fails to end stalemate between Tamil Nadu, Karnataka

CHENNAI: The Union Government’s efforts to end the stalemate between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the sensitive Cauvery water issue failed on Thursday with both sides sticking to their known stands, even as Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti said she was even ready to go on a “hunger strike” to maintain peace.

Ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on sharing of Cauvery water on Friday, Karn.ataka Chief Minister K Siddaramaiah on Thursday said the state cannot spare any quantum of water for Tamil Nadu as it will be detrimental to drinking water requirements of its people.

At the meeting, Karnataka suggested that the Centre send a team of experts to both the states to study rainfall and water availability in Cauvery basin, but it was outright rejected by Tamil Nadu, which expressed reservations against the move.

“We have decided to send views of both the states to the SC. Whatever the SC has ordered, we are just bound by it. It was an opportunity for both states to find a solution; but no solution was found and (the issue) will (again) go to the court through the Attorney General," Ms Bharti said after the meeting.

The SC would hear the matter again on Friday. After the four-hour long meeting, Ms Bharti also made a passionate appeal to the people of TN and Karnataka to maintain peace and cordial atmosphere. “I am ready to sit on hunger strike, if required, to maintain peace in both the states,” she said.

Karnataka chief secretary Arvind Jadhav said his state insisted on a Central expert committee's visit to the basin area to study "ground realities, actual quantum of drinking water available and crop situation" before water was released as directed by SC.

When the TN government reiterated the long-standing demand for setting up a Cauvery Water Management Board, Siddaramaiah said since the SC will hear the case on October 11, it has to be decided after that.