Water Policy: Panel to formulate State's stand

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, JULY 4. The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, today set up a sub-committee to formulate the stand to be taken by him on the national water policy guidelines at the meeting of the National Water Resources Council convened by the Prime Minister on July 7.

The committee was set up at the end of an all-party meeting after several participants expressed unhappiness at the failure of the Union Government to incorporate the suggestions made by the State to the draft water policy guidelines. The committee will meet tomorrow.

Announcing this at a press conference, the Major Irrigation Minister, Mr. H.K. Patil, and the Law Minister, Mr. D.B. Chandre Gowda, said the draft guidelines were sent to the State in 1996, and the Government had made many suggestions. Proper consideration had not been given to these while revising the guidelines, they said. The sub-committee will consist of the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Veerappa Moily, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Mr. K.H. Srinivas, the Leader of the JD(U) in the Assembly, Mr. P.G.R. Sindhia, the BJP floor leader in the Legislative Council, Dr. M.R. Tanga, the former Irrigation Minister, Mr. H.N. Nanje Gowda, and legal and irrigation experts apart from Mr. Patil and Mr. Chandre Gowda. Mr. Patil said the meeting also discussed the invitation of the Prime Minister to the State to attend the meeting of the Cauvery River Authority on July 14 and it was decided that the Chief Minister should attend the meeting since adequate notice had been given of the meeting. The last meeting was not attended by the Chief Minister on the ground that the meeting had been convened without adequate notice and without preparation. The invitation will be utilised by the Chief Minister to explain the State's stand and the need for framing rules and regulations in the background of the past political agreements. The Supreme Court judgment on the Almatti Dam issue also figured at the meeting. It was, however, decided to hold a separate meeting on it as any decision had to precede exhaustive discussion. It will be held on July 11.

High Court Bench

The meeting appealed to the advocates and the public in Hubli- Dharwad to withdraw their agitation demanding a Bench of the High Court in the light of the steps taken by the Government in this direction.

Mr. Gowda said the meeting discussed at length the report of the five-judge committee which had held that the constitution of a Bench was neither desirable nor feasible, and also the letter the Chief Justice had written to the Chief Minister in this connection and the follow-up action taken by the Government to pursue its request.

Explaining the provisions in the State Reorganisation Act with regard to setting up of permanent and circuit Benches of the High Court, Mr. Gowda said a request had been made to set up a circuit Bench at Hubli-Dharwad on the Rajyotsava Day till such time a permanent Bench was set up. A concrete proposal on the matter had been sent to the Union Law Minister, and this contained the recommendation of the former Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, Mr. D.M. Chandrashekar, favouring such a Bench and also the report of the committee on the availability of suitable buildings.

Asked about the demand from Gulbarga and other centres for a Bench, Mr. Gowda said the law provided for establishment of more than one Bench and the decision to set up a Bench in Hubli- Dharwad did not mean that it could not be set up in any other place. For the time being, Hubli-Dharwad in Belgaum Division had been suggested as a specific place was sought to be mentioned.

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Section  : Southern States
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