New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today (June 8, 2004) assured an all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu that after discussions with the Governments concerned, including Karnataka, a fair solution acceptable to all may be evolved.

"It is essential that we reach a suitable settlement acceptable to all. It is necessary that distress is shared equitably so that no specific region suffers excessively."

"The rain god has been kind this year and owing to an early monsoon and heavier-than-expected rainfall, it is likely that we may not face a situation of distress this year," Singh told the delegation which sought his intervention to direct Karnataka Government to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the Interim Award of Cauvery Tribunal.

The Prime Minister said he was discussing the matter on "priority" with the concerned Governments including Karnataka and assured that he would listen to all points of view in the Cauvery basin both in Karnataka and in Tamil Nadu so that a "fair solution acceptable to all may be evolved", a press release issued by the PMO said.

Showing a rare unanimity, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) joined the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led delegation to the Prime Minister to demand immediate release of water by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.

The delegation comprising all Central Ministers belonging to DMK, Congress and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and MPs from Tamil Nadu apprised the Prime Minister of the need for emergency supply of water by Karnataka to enable Tamil Nadu Government to open the Mettur dam for cultivation of summer crops.