A people’s movement should be mobilised against the National Water Resources Policy 2012 of the Union government as it would have far reaching and adverse consequences on the country, said R.Nallakannu, senior leader of Communist Party of India, recently.
The policy seeks to surreptitiously promote privatisation of water resources and services, he said at a function to mark the English version of ‘Thamiravaruni – conflicts over water resources,’ and ‘Mannai Alanthavargal,’ authored by late P.Gomathinayagam.
Mr.Nallakannu expressed concern over the lack of efforts to conserve traditional irrigation systems. There were about 39,402 tanks in the State.
Of this, over 5,000 have vanished. Encroachments eat into several others. Groundwater table is also under threat. The State was facing problems with respect to sharing the waters of the Cauvery, Palar and Mullaperiyar.
Notwithstanding the Cauery Tribunal verdict and the Supreme Court directions, Karnataka refuses to release water to Tamil Nadu. The Centre has remained a mute spectator, he said and regretted the absence of ‘unified voice’ on the issue.
Pazha. Nedumaran, president, Ulaga Tamizhar Peramaippu, said neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu were showing scant regard to directives from the Supreme Court with respect to sharing river waters. Given the situation, several parts of the State could turn dry lands. People should rise above communal, caste and other barriers, and come forward to fight for the rights of the State.
V.N.Somasundaram of Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram, S.T.Rathinavel, former chief engineer, R.Venkatasamy, former superintendent engineer, Public Works Department, and R.Rajendra Cholan, writer, spoke.
