The Coordination Committee of All Farmers Associations in Tamil Nadu has called upon Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to clarify the status of Cauvery Water Management Authority in the backdrop of the Centre’s announcement that the Dam Safety Act had come into force on February 18.
Addressing media persons at Mannargudi on February 19, Committee president P. R. Pandian termed the Centre’s announcement that the Act had been approved by the President and, hence, it would come into force immediately as a blow to the federal setup of the country as several States had registered their objection towards the enactment of the Dam Safety Bill.
He pointed out that Cauvery Water Management Authority, which was formed at the behest of the Supreme Court and monitored by it, was entirely a different institution compared to all other authorities formed by Centre to settle and manage issues related to river water sharing between beneficiaries States.
Hence, the Chief Minister must clarify what would happen to the autonomous status of CWMA and whether it would be brought under the control of National Dam Safety Authority, he said.
Regretting the statement made by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on the floor of the State Assembly on February 18 that the State government was firm in its stance to build a new dam to replace the 126-year-old Mullaperiyar dam in Idukki district and that water would not be allowed to be stored beyond 136 feet, Mr. Pandian said the move was nothing but an act to disturb inter-State relationships.
In order to register the objections of farmers of Tamil Nadu, the Coordination Committee would organise demonstrations in Theni, Madurai, Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar districts on February 21, he added.
He also urged the Tamil Nadu government not to allow the setting up of additional units at Koodankulam Atomic Power Plant until a viable solution to the problem of safe disposal of effluents generated at the plant was arrived at.
