Tamil Nadu raking up Cauvery water issue for political gain: H D Kumaraswamy

SHIMOGA: Karnataka Government should oppose Tamil Nadu's demand for release of Cauvery water when the farmers of Cauvery basin in the state are suffering due to shortage of water during summer, former Chief Minister and JD(S) president H D Kumaraswamy said today.

Speaking to reporters here, he said Tamil Nadu raking up the water issue particularly during summer seems to be "ridiculous and meaningless".

Tamil Nadu government is raising the water sharing issue for "political gain and creating tension among farmers of Karnataka", he alleged, adding he would press the state not to budge or yield to the demand at any cost and take up awareness and confidence building activities among farmers in the basin.

Tamil Nadu has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to restrain Karnataka from resorting to summer irrigation.

The two states are locked in decades-long dispute on sharing waters of the river and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, set up by the Centre, had in 2007 given its final award, allocating 419 tmcft water to Tamil Nadu and 270 tmcft to Karnataka annually.

However, Karnataka has challenged the award in the apex court, alleging it gave a raw deal to the state overlooking its requirements and rights.