Cauvery Dispute: Former CM Bommai criticizes K'taka government's approach

Bengaluru: BJP leader and former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai raised concerns about the Karnataka government’s handling of the Cauvery water issue, asserting that errors made from the top down are placing the people of the state in a precarious situation.

Bommai questioned the need for further legal arguments if water is released as per the CWMA’s directive.

Speaking near his residence on Tuesday, Bommai contended that the state government, in its affidavit to the Supreme Court has said that it is unable to release water to Tamil Nadu after September 12. The government has to be bound by the affidavit submitted to the court, lest it may be construed as misrepresenting facts, he said.

Responding to Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s comments to his suggestions, Bommai said that he offered advice keeping the best interest of the state. State government’s decisions are causing confusion and inconvenience for the state’s farmers and the communities dependent on the Cauvery waters, he added.

Bommai dismissed the notion of seeking intervention from the Prime Minister as a solution to the problem and said that historical discussions since before 1990 have yielded no progress. He also stressed the importance of presenting accurate data to the Supreme Court regarding water levels in Tamil Nadu’s dams.

Responding to former Prime Minister Deve Gowda’s suggestion of an out-of-court settlement, Bommai asserted that Tamil Nadu has historically been uncooperative in negotiations.