Bangalore: Battling the Cauvery crisis, Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on September 20 indirectly asked Tamil Nadu to understand the state's position on water release in view of lack of rainfall, saying that it might help in finding a solution "to some extent" to the vexed issue.

"When one state is in distress, it is our tradition that another should come to its help. But when we ourselves are caught in the whirlwind of problems, our views should be understood by others," Krishna said, dedicating to Bangalore, the Stage IV, Phase I of Cauvery water supply scheme.

The Rs 1,072 crore project, implemented with Japanese aid, will augment water supply to Bangalore by an additional 270 million litres a day.

Noting that the state was hit by drought, he said, "Rains have not come. Whom shall we ask why it has not rained. Can we ask the Centre. Can we ask the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) or can we ask Tamil Nadu. Who will answer this?" he said, virtually pleading state's helplessness on the issue.

"We go to the sea in search of salt. If the salt itself is not there, our search will not be fruitful," he said, and stressed that nature has to come to the rescue.

He said that the state also looked to the Centre for its guidance in finding a solution.

Krishna's remarks came before the Centre asked the state to resume release of Cauvery waters in accordance with the decision of the CRA. The state Cabinet had on September 19 decided to suspend the release following the suicide committed by a Beechanahalli Gram Panchayat member.

PTI