Take up fight for distress formula, says former CMs

BENGALURU: Janata Dal Secular MLA and former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Wednesday criticised the state government for releasing water to Tamil Nadu on the orders of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and asked the state government why it released water when distress formula for sharing water during crisis years was not ready.

Speaking to reporters in Channapatna, the Assembly seat that he represents, Kumaraswamy said that the state government should fight for distress sharing formula and the state government should think over it. By this time, the state government should have started its fight to get the distress formula.

He recalled revenue minister Krishna Byregowda's statement about Karnataka suffering crop loss in about 42 lakh hectares, which led to a financial loss of about Rs 6,000 crores and said that this "loss is huge".

He asked the state government to not waste time and initiate steps for relief works in drought-hit taluks of the state.

"By this time the state government should have taken a delegation to central government and invited a team from the central government for drought assessment. But the state government is more restricted to issuing statements," he said.

Kumaraswamy flayed the attitude of state officials over river Cauvery water dispute and reiterated that a team of about 15 officials from Tamil Nadu has attend meetings on water release.