Supreme Court has appointed a team of experts to help resolve the Cauvery dispute. (File)
A team of experts appointed by the Supreme Court began its nine-day field visit of the Cauvery basin from Mandya district of Karnataka to assess the situation and help work out a solution for the state's water-sharing dispute with neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
"The team's aim is to distribute water between the two states in a judicious manner. We will be visiting the entire command within the shortest possible time," Central Water Commission Chairman G S Jha, who is heading the team, told reporters after a meeting with the officials of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry governments.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil attended the meeting, saying the state is expected to fall short of 20 thousand million cubic feet of water this year.
The team set up by the Supreme Court will have to submit a report to the top court by October 17.
The committee is scheduled to visit K R Pet on Saturday morning and inspect Hemavathi dam to assess the water reserve. It will then leave for Tamil Nadu to see Mettur dam in the evening, an official said.
Meanwhile, DMK treasurer and leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu M K Stalin led hundreds of party workers in observing a fast in Thanjavur to condemn the Centre's stand on setting up of the Cauvery Water Management Board.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu have accused the Centre of "betraying" the state by seeking modification of a Supreme Court order asking it to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB).
The ruling AIADMK and Opposition DMK have alleged that the NDA government made the move with an eye on the Karnataka Assembly polls, scheduled in 2018.
Mr Stalin said DMK would lead an all-party delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and, if needed, also meet President Pranab Mukherjee on the issue.