Cabinet meeting focuses on ways to handle water crisis

Steps to be taken to ensure the formation of the Cauvery Management Board – the issue which is now pending before the Supreme Court, were brought up before the cabinet, and deliberated. The Cabinet discussed in detail about the acute drinking water crisis across the state, and the action which needs to be taken to overcome the summer with the limited water resources. Sources said the ministers also discussed the measures the state would have to adopt to bridge the windfall in revenue due to the GST implementation. The proposed implementation of the GST Act from July 1 would eat into the revenue of the state government. The modalities required to carry out the projects that were interlinked among four portfolios — revenue, transport, finance and housing, and execution of the same without any hindrance, were also brought up for discussion.

The meeting which lasted for over-an-hour had mentions of the state seeking exemption for NEET through the Bills sent for Presidential assent. Convening of the state Assembly to take up the demands on subsidy advance on the Budget also figured in the agenda. The cabinet meeting assumes significance with the merger talks of the warring factions having failed to make any headway, and the Chief Minister reportedly instructing his cabinet colleagues from making any adverse remarks against the Centre.