Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today held consultations with Congress leaders from Karnataka on sharing of Cauvery waters with Tamil Nadu. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Minister of State for Railways, K H Munniyappa along with Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal, met the Prime Minister at his South Block office in New Delhi today.

Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge told newsmen after the meeting that the Prime Minister was apprised of the grim situation in the State. He said, they also requested him to resolve the problem at the earliest, based on the report of the expert committee.

He said, party leaders also explained to Dr. Singh the drinking water situation, particularly in Bangalore, Mandya, Hassan and Mysore as well as the standing crops which are facing water scarcity. Asked about the interests of Tamil Nadu being taken into account, Mr. Kharge said, the Prime Minister will look into the interests of everybody.

Meanwhile, a Central team visiting the two states is likely to return today. The team will report to Cauvery Monitoring Committee which is meeting on October 11 to decide on the quantity of water to be released by Karnataka after October 15.

Last week, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna had written to the Prime Minister requesting him to stop further release of water to Tamil Nadu and to seek a report from the team that has been deputed to assess the water situation.