Bengaluru, DHNS: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Wednesday said an all-party meeting will be convened on August 7 to decide the state’s next course of action in the Mahadayi river water dispute.

The Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal last week rejected the state’s plea for an interim award allowing diversion of 7 tmc ft of water from Mahadayi river to augment drinking water supply to four districts of North Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters after holding a meeting with top officials of the Water Resources and Home departments, Siddaramaiah said floor leaders of the two Houses of the Legislature, members of Parliament, legislators from the districts of Bagalkot, Belagavi, Dharwad and Gadag, besides legal experts would be invited to the meeting.

Prior to that, Water Resources Minister M?B?Patil would meet senior counsel Fali S?Nariman in New Delhi on August 5 and discuss the legal recourse the state needs to take in the context of the Tribunal order.

Review of cases

Siddaramaiah said senior police officer Raghavendra Auradkar would review cases filed on agitators who protested against the Tribunal order. The chief minister said the police had arrested 187 people for indulging in arson during the protests on July 27 and 28. As many as 24 cases were filed.

The chief minister said Auradkar would ascertain the circumstances under which the arrests were made. Cases filed against senior citizens, women and students would be scrutinised and a decision would be taken on dropping the charges, he said.

Siddaramaiah also regretted the police excesses in Yamanur village of Navalgund in Dharwad district, where women and children were beaten up mercilessly.

He said a circle inspector and eight constables had been suspended for using force against the protesters. DySP of Navalgund taluk had been transferred. The chief minister said Director General of Police Kamal Pant who was probing the police brutality, would submit a report soon.