Cauvery verdict: Tamil Nadu CM says cut in quantum of water disappointing

CHENNAI: Charging that the DMK was trying to create an impression that Tamil Nadu had lost its rights due to the verdict, Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday said “Indeed, there are many aspects that are favourable to Tamil Nadu and directive to form the Cauvery Management Board within six weeks is one among them.”

However, the chief minister said despite the contention of Cauvery Tribunal that groundwater should not be taken into account for cultivation, the SC had taken that into account and reduced the quantum of water to Tamil Nadu from 192 tmc to 177.25 tmc, which was disappointing.

“Now, DMK working president MK Stalin and principal secretary Durai Murugan are trying to create an impression that Tamil Nadu had lost its rights because of the verdict. Indeed, DMK regime in the past was responsible for losing the rights of TN. When Karnataka built a dam across Kabini river in 1974, the then DMK government failed to check that and as a result, the rights of Tamil Nadu were lost.

Cauvery verdict: Supreme Court reduces Tamil Nadu's allocation to 177.2 TMC, awards additional water to Karnataka citing Bengaluru water crisis

Had the DMK regime reviewed certain key aspects of the 1924 agreement with Karnataka for sharing Cauvery water in 1974, the present crisis would not have occurred,” the CM said in a statement. He pointed out that since Tamil Nadu government had effectively argued the Cauvery dispute by engaging renowned advocates for the past seven years, the rights of Tamil Nadu have been established again. “The State government will study the present SC verdict in its entirety in consultation with the legal experts, all further steps will be taken to get Cauvery water due to us.”

The chief minister said the Apex Court had made it clear that the six week time frame for evolving a scheme to implement the final verdict of the tribunal would not be extended at any cost. Since this scheme would facilitate the formation of Cauvery Management Board to implement the final verdict of the Tribunal, it is a big victory for the stand taken by late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.

Farmers associations welcome move

Farmers association in Tamil Nadu welcomed the Supreme court’s verdict. P.R. Pandian, president of Coordination Committee of All Tamil Nadu farmers association said that the judgement had set the precedent on how the water disputes among the states to be viewed in future. “Though we are little disappointed with the reduction of quantum of water, Tamil Nadu’s stand vindicated and its right over the Cauvery river upheld by the apex court,” he said.

He said the verdict was landmark as this was the first time a constitutional body made it clear that no state can claim ownership over the river, he added. P Ayyakannu, president of National South Indian Rivers Inter-Linking Farmers Association welcomed the verdict. “The union government should constitute the Cauvery Management board immediately,” he said.