Following is the
text of the Opening Remarks of the Prime Minister Shri Atal
Bihari Vajpayee at the 6th Meeting of the Cauvery
River Authority here today:
"I welcome you
all to the 6th meeting of the Cauvery River Authority.
Two previous attempts
at convening the Authority’s meeting could not succeed due to
a lack of quorum. In the last meeting held on September 08,
2002, it was decided that Karnataka should release waters from
its four reservoirs so as to ensure 9,000 cusecs of water in
Mettur, accounted on weekly basis during the ensuing months
of September and October. Although Karnataka had made certain
releases in pursuance to this decision, it could not fully comply
with it.
We decided to meet
on January 13 this year. However, this meeting could not be
convened due to absence of the required quorum. Subsequently,
I discussed the issue separately with the Chief Ministers of
Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. During these informal discussions,
the Chief Minister of Karnataka assured that his State would
release water so as to ensure the rate of 1,200 cusecs at Mettur
for the months of January and February.
The Chief Minister
of Tamil Nadu, however, requested that concentrated releases
should be made at the earliest to help the State in meeting
the irrigation demand. I am informed that Karnataka made certain
releases, which has resulted in enhanced inflows into Mettur
reservoir from January 20 to 28, 2003.
Our country has
had to face a serious situation of drought this year. In the
Cauvery basin, too, rainfall has been deficient. Therefore,
we should take an appropriate decision keeping in view the interests
of the farmers of both the States. While the crops in Karnataka
have matured in December, Tamil Nadu would have a critical requirement
during the remaining period of February. The farmers’ interest
will have to be safeguarded by ensuring successful maturity
of the Samba crop in the State.
Realising the criticality
of the situation, the Supreme Court on February 6, 2003 has
also directed that the matter be decided by CRA. In the mean
time, Karnataka was required to release sufficient water from
its reservoirs so as to ensure an average inflow of 4,500 cusecs
of water per day at Mettur amounting to about 0.4 TMC per day.
I hope that we
address this difficult situation in the spirit of mutual cooperation
and come out with a practical and workable solution acceptable
to the basin States.
I now call upon
the Chief Ministers to make their opening remarks".
