Tamil Nadu to convene all-party meet on Cauvery issue
Condemning Karnataka’s refusal to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite good rainfall in the catchment areas, Chief Minister M K Stalin convened an all-party meeting to discuss the issue and take action.
In an official statement, the chief minister termed the neighbouring state’s stance a violation of the Supreme Court’s order and a betrayal of Tamil Nadu’s farmers.
Parties with representation in the state legislature have been invited for the meeting, to be chaired by DMK veteran and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan.
While the meeting is an attempt to arrive at a political consensus, the chief minister, in the statement, said legal experts too would be consulted on securing the legitimate share of the state in the Cauvery waters.
Stalin pointed out that Karnataka has been disregarding the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) which were constituted to implement the final award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal and the Supreme Court orders. Even last year, Karnataka failed to release the stipulated quantum of water, leaving the farmers in the Cauvery Delta region in the lurch. Then also, Tamil Nadu was forced to take the matter to the apex court.