TN to approach SC to get Cauvery water for Samba crop: Jaya

Jayalalithaa said the state would soon file a petition in the Supreme Court to get its share of Cauvery water from Karnataka.

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said the state would soon file a petition in the Supreme Court to get its share of Cauvery water from Karnataka and announced a Rs 64.30 crore package to help delta farmers raise Samba crop if inflow from the neighbouring state to Mettur dam continued to be insufficient.

She reiterated her government's resolve to pursue all legal measures to uphold Tamil Nadu's rights over the Mekedatu dam issue.

In a suo moto statement in the Assembly, the Chief Minister said there was no reply from the Karnataka and Central governments to Tamil Nadu's letter to them seeking release of 22.934 TMC water due to the state for June-July period.

As on August 17, storage in Mettur was 27.560 TMC ft and the combined storage in Harangi, Hemavathi, Krishnarajasagar and Kabini reservoirs in Karnataka was 64.849 TMC ft and that state continued to release water for irrigation, she said.

"I have ordered filing an interim petition in the Supreme Court to get our due share of Cauvery water as Karnataka is not forthcoming to release water in accordance with the Cauvery Tribunal's final award," she said, adding that the plea would be filed in a day or two.

"I am confident that we will be able to get our due (of Cauvery water) in tune with the Cauvery tribunal's final award by getting appropriate orders of the apex court," she said.

However, just in case of continued insufficient inflows in Mettur and deficient rainfall, Jayalalithaa said her government would implement a Rs 64.30 crore special plan for cultivation of Samba crop to help delta farmers.

Under the plan, farmers would get subsidy for various farm activities, including procurement of quality seeds, mechanised sowing and planting operations.

The Chief Minister recalled that Karnataka had informed both Tamil Nadu and the Supreme Court that it had no intent to construct dams at Mekedatu across Cauvery river, and that it would never undertake any construction without apprising the Apex Court.

"The government led by me will take all legal steps to establish the rights of Tamil Nadu if Karnataka intended to implement any plan (for construction of dams) across Cauvery river in violation of Cauvery Tribunal's final award and without the consent of Tamil Nadu," she said.