Date:26/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/26/stories/2005122607720600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

`No dispute with Andhra Pradesh on river waters'

Staff Reporter

TIRUPATI: Karnataka Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh has made it clear that there was no serious dispute over the sharing of river waters with Andhra Pradesh, and for that matter, with any other riparian State.

"Such trivial differences could be sorted out by having a meeting of Chief Ministers," he said.

Mr. Singh was here on Sunday to offer prayers at the Tirumala temple on the occasion of his 70th birthday. He told mediapersons that differences were bound to arise in a large democracy and solving them amicably at the chief ministerial level would be to the mutual benefit of both the States. In the case of a tangle, the issue could be taken up with the Centre and an acceptable solution arrived at. Mr.Singh, who has a tradition of celebrating his birthday at Tirumala every year, later offered prayers at the temple.