Date:25/02/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/25/stories/2007022506350100.htm

National

Karnataka ready for talks

S. Rajendran

H. D. Kumaraswamy

Bangalore: The Karnataka Government, apart from the legal recourse that it plans to take to secure justice in the Cauvery water sharing issue, is also believed to be gearing up for negotiations with Tamil Nadu should it express an inclination for the same.

Sources close to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy told The Hindu here on Saturday that the coalition Government was keen on a fair settlement.

Should there be a favourable response from Tamil Nadu, the Chief Minister would spell out the next steps.

"Mr. Kumaraswamy is keen that there should be an end to the animosity between the two States largely arising out of sharing of the Cauvery waters. In the view of the Chief Minister, it would be ideal to sit across the table and sort out the issue rather than waste time in courts," the sources said.

If need be, Mr. Kumaraswamy is ready to go to Chennai and talk to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and other political leaders, including the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa.