The State government had obtained a very good verdict from the Supreme Court — one which could resolve the Cauvery water sharing dispute, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami said here on Saturday.
Inaugurating the 57th summer festival and two-day flower show at Bryant Park, he said, “The current government had argued the case, filed by Amma (Jayalalithaa), in the Supreme Court efficiently by presenting all the facts and engaging senior lawyers to get the ‘good verdict’ yesterday (Friday), 32 years after the dispute began.”
“The Cauvery is the primary source of drinking water for 20 districts. It was [former Chief Minister] MGR who sought a tribunal to resolve the dispute. The tribunal passed its final order in 2007, but the Centre put it [the verdict] in the dust bin and delayed the notification of the order,” he said.
“It was Amma who filed the case in the Supreme Court, which gave its verdict in 2013. Only after did the Centre notify the order in the gazette. Amma insisted on [release of] 192 tmcft and filed a case again in the Supreme Court, as the Centre did not take the required steps. Now, the Tamil Nadu government has obtained a verdict that could solve the water sharing dispute,” he added.
Recalling Jayalalithaa’s 80-hour fast at the MGR Memorial to highlight the issues faced by farmers, Mr. Palaniswami said, “She was the only one who waged a successful legal battle for Cauvery water, and she fought [for the cause] till her death.”
Accusing the Opposition parties of staging a drama to deceive their party members and the public, the CM said, “They are not only selfish, but are also dreaming of capturing power in the State. But the people will ultimately choose those who will work for them.”
Later in the day, Mr. Palaniswami said water would be released from the Periyar dam if its storage level improved.
