HYDERABAD: Taking exception to Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy’s demand that operationalisation of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) be deferred, Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to instruct the Water Resources Ministry to immediately convene a meeting of CWMA and ensure release of water on monthly or 10-day basis to TN.
“Any further delay in CWMA becoming fully operational would be a violation of the judgment of Supreme Court. It would also seriously prejudice interests of farmers of TN,” he said in a letter to Modi. Referring to Kumaraswamy’s demand to place the Cauvery scheme before Parliament, he said, “This request is another ploy of Karnataka to avoid complying with orders of SC. It is also an attempt to re-open the already adjudicated dispute which has attained finality by the judgment of SC.
This is not permissible.” Stating that Karnataka had given scant regard to SC orders in the past, the CM said, “The issues and contentions raised by Karnataka have been settled by SC in its orders dated February 16 and May 18. The SC, in its order dated May 18, had emphatically held that Cauvery Authority should be... given effect to with promptitude before the onset of impending monsoon and become operational.” He said in the last six years, TN had suffered as Karnataka had failed to ensure timely release of water. “This year, farmers of TN have a legitimate expectation that CWMA... will ensure regulated release of water by Karnataka...,” he added.