The Hindu : Patil refuses to respond to Shivakumar's charge

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Patil refuses to respond to Shivakumar's charge

By Our Special Correspondent

HUBLI Jan. 6. The Minister for Water Resources, H.K.Patil, here on Monday declined to join issue with his Cabinet colleague, D.K.Shivakumar, over his Delhi visit.

When his attention was drawn to the criticism by Mr. Shivakumar that Mr. Patil had stabbed the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, in the back by taking complaints to the Congress High Command, Mr. Patil said that he did not wish to react to it now. On the Delhi visit, Mr. Patil said that it was in connection with the choice of KPCC chief and strengthening the party at the grassroots. And, "some other issues" also cropped, he said, while declining to elaborate.

Mr. Patil was also unwilling to comment on the senior party leader, Jaffer Sharief's criticism of the Krishna Government.

"I have shared with you whatever I wanted to say, and I have nothing more to add," he said.

Mr. Patil confirmed that Karnataka had started releasing water to Maharashtra from the Alamatti Dam through the Indi Branch Canal. This was done on humanitarian grounds as the people of that State needed water for drinking.

He allayed apprehensions that this would jeopardise the interests of Karnataka farmers. "While taking this step we have ensured that standing crops in Karnataka are not deprived of water," Mr. Patil said in a reference to the opposition in Bijapur over the Government's decision. Mr. Patil pointed out that Karnataka had taken such a step in the past even though Maharashtra had not properly responded to similar requests by Karnataka for releasing water from the Ujani Dam across the Krishna near Solapur.

Asked why Karnataka was hesitating to properly respond to a similar request made by Andhra Pradesh, Mr. Patil said there was no question of politicising the issue.

Mr. Patil said that the Andhra Pradesh minister, Kadiam Srihari, had spoken to him on Sunday reiterating the request for water. Mr. Patil said he would discuss the issue with the Chief Minister on his return to Bangalore and take a decision.

Karnataka had made it clear that there was no question of releasing 37 tmcft. of water as demanded by Andhra Pradesh from the Alamatti Dam. Karnataka did not have enough water to meet the irrigation requirements but it could spare some water for drinking water purpose, he said.

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