Bangalore: Karnataka government on February 11 expressed hope that Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal would protect the interests of the state in its final verdict.

"The final verdict is between the lawyers and the tribunal and we hope Karnataka's interests will be protected," Chief Minister S M Krishna told reporters after inaugurating the Connect II Meet of the Tourism Department.

To a question on the Cauvery agitation in Mandya in protest against water release to Tamil Nadu, Krishna said the government had taken all precautions to maintain law and order and there would be no shortage of drinking water in any of the towns in the district.

The Cauvery River Authority headed by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had on February 10 asked Karnataka to release 4,500 CUSECS of water daily to Tamil Nadu for three days and after that, to ensure inflows as per the interim order of the tribunal.

He said there was nothing new in the tribunal order. "The order of releasing 205 CUSECS of water to Tamil Nadu holds good for a normal year. But this year is an abnormal one with the drought," he said.

He however assured that government would make all efforts to see that the state did not face any drinking water shortage.

PTI