Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to convene a meeting of the Cauvery Management Authority (CMA) immediately so that Tamil Nadu could get its due share of water on monthly/10-day basis. He also sought an immediate, positive response from the Prime Minster.
In a letter to Mr. Modi, he said the media had widely reported that the Chief Minister of Karnataka had requested the Centre to defer the operation of the CMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
The Chief Minister of Karnataka is also reported to have stated that it was advisable to place the scheme before Parliament. “It is evident that Karnataka has scant regard for the orders of the Supreme Court and seeks to re-open the adjudicated dispute, which attained finality by the SC judgement, dated February 16, 2018.”
The Supreme Court, in its May 18 order, had held that the CMA should be given effect before the onset of the monsoon.
At this time, Karnataka’s request to defer the operation of the CMA was another ploy not to comply with the SC orders, he said, adding that it was also an attempt to re-open the already adjudicated dispute, which was not permissible.
During the last six years, as Karnataka failed to ensure timely release of water, Tamil Nadu suffered severely. In the current year, the farmers of Tamil Nadu have a legitimate expectation that the CMA would ensure the regulated release of water by Karnataka at Billigundulu, he noted.
Any delay in the CMA becoming fully operational would be a violation of the judgment of the Supreme Court. It would seriously prejudice the interests of the farmers of Tamil Nadu, he said, requesting the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation to issue instructions to the CMA to immediately convene its meeting.
