Chennai, Jan 17 (PTI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister KPalaniswami today hit out at the Centre for not acting on itsplea seeking Cauvery water release from Karnataka, and saidthat steps would be taken "in a day or two" to release theavailable water to delta farmers to save their standing crops.
Palaniswami said while the Supreme Court has said itsjudgment on Cauvery issue will be given soon, there was noadequate water to be provided to delta farmers.
In view of insufficient seasonal rainfall, water requiredcould not be given to the farmers, he told reporters aftertaking part in the 101st birth anniversary celebrations ofAIADMK founder and former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.
"Still, in view of non-availability of adequate water, wesent a letter to the Centre, (but) they did not take anyaction," he said in response to a question on delta farmersvis-a-vis the Cauvery judgement.
Palaniswami said letters were later sent to PrimeMinister Narendra Modi and Karnataka Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah seeking water. Additionally, an interim petitionwas filed in the apex court seeking water.
However, they said the plea could not be accepted in viewof the verdict which was to be delivered soon.
A letter was again written to Siddaramaiah, urging him tosave the standing paddy crops of delta farmers, he said,adding, "you all know what was the reply to it."Siddaramaiah has reportedly said it was not possible torelease water to Tamil Nadu.
As far as the state government was concerned, steps werebeing taken to provide available water to farmers so that theycould harvest and get full yield of the standing paddy crops,Palaniswami said.
"We will take steps for the release of available water tothe extent possible in a day or two," Palaniswami said.
About the valedictory of the centenary celebrations of MG Ramachandran, Palaniswami said a letter has been written tothe prime minister and as soon as he gives a date, it will beheld in a grand manner in Chennai.
On the arrest of 16 Tamil Nadu fishermen, including onesuffering from kidney ailment, by the Sri Lankan navyyesterday, he said the government was taking appropriateaction for their release.
The prime minister's intervention will be sought in thisregard, he said.
Asked about the death of a Tamil Nadu medical PG studentin Delhi University College of Medical Sciences recently, hesaid the government was taking all steps to provide securityto its students pursuing education in other states.
Students from the state pursuing higher studies in otherstates have already been urged to register themselves with theTamil Nadu government.
"Students going to other states to pursue highereducation do not register with the state government and thatis why there is so much confusion," he said.
On sidelined AIADMK leader T T V Dhinakaran's reportedmove to launch a party, Palaniswami said "there will be noimpact... For 10 years, he was not at all in the party, wasthere any impact?"People do not even think of him and it is only the mediawhich was "magnifying" his stature, he said.
Responding to reporters' question in this regard atUdhagamandalam, Dhinakaran said today there was no immediatenecessity for him to float a new party and said he would movethe court seeking permission to function as a member of theAIADMK (Amma).
About a letter written by party senior leader andunsuccessful R K Nagar party candidate E Madhusudanan, blaminganother leader for his defeat, Palaniswami said it was an"internal party matter...will anybody discuss it outside."To a question, he said the AIADMK was ready to face thelocal body polls.
On the continuing strike of firecracker units seekingexemption from the ambit of the Environment Protection Act, hesaid lawyers will be engaged to represent the units to protectthem.
Palaniswami said the Centre is being urged to protect theunits. PTI VGN BNABH.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.