Mandya: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on October 12 asked the Centre to
frame the National Water Policy guidelines as early as possible to help solve the
inter-state water disputes.
At a massive rally to mark the culmination of his 104-km, six-day 'pada yatra' on
Cauvery issue in his home district in Mandya, Krishna also said his government
wanted good neighbourly relations with Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, with whom the
state had water sharing problem.
"We have no animosity towards any state," Krishna told farmers who had packed the
stadium braving constant rains.
He said the present rains should cool tempers between Tamil Nadu and the state on
Cauvery issue and added that about 12,000 CUSECS water flowed into Tamil Nadu from
Karnataka.
On the contempt petition pending before the Supreme Court against him and others
for "wilfuly disobeying" the court orders on release of water, Krishna said, "I do
not know what is in store for the state."
The state government had, however, told the court in its affidavit the situation it
faced when it decided to suspend the release of water, he said.
He also dismissed Opposition charge that the state counsels in the Cauvery case had
not put forth Karnataka's case effectively before the Supreme Court.
Krishna said Cauvery and Krishna rivers were like two eyes of the state and his
government was committed to protecting the interests of farmers.
He also described as "far fetched" the "propaganda" of Tamil Nadu that the state was
reluctant to release waters, noting that Karnataka itself was facing a
crisis.
Krishna appealed to farmers to call off their ongoing stir, saying his government
would protect their interests.
PTI
