Cong, BJP leaders meet PM over Cauvery water row

Congress and BJP leaders from Karnataka today met PM Manmohan Singh to voice concern over the decision of the Cauvery River Authority asking the state to provide Tamil Nadu with 9000 cusecs of water daily and sought a review.

Cutting across party lines, Congress and BJP leaders from Karnataka on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to voice concern over the decision of the Cauvery River Authority asking the state to provide Tamil Nadu with 9000 cusecs of water daily and sought a review.

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Union ministers from Karnataka belonging to Congress and BJP MPs from the state held separate meetings with Singh where they tried to impress upon him about the "grim" situation in the state.

While Karnataka ministers, including SM Krishna, Mallikarjun Kharge and KH Muniyappa told the Prime Minister that the situation was "grim" in the state, BJP MPs demanded reviewing the order of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) which had asked the state to provide 9000 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu between September 20 and October 15.

"We requested him to resolve the problem at the earliest...the situation is very grim. That is why we have asked the Prime Minister to resolve the situation," Kharge told reporters after the meeting.

He said the party leaders also explained to Singh the drinking water situation, particularly in Bangalore, Mandya, Hasan and Mysore as well as the standing crops which are facing water scarcity.

"Rainy season is over in Cauvery basin in Karnataka. Monsoon will begin in Tamil Nadu. The priority has to be drinking water, whichever is the state. The Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) has to place the factual situation. Based on that the Prime Minister will take a decision," Muniyappa said.