All-party team should appeal for Cauvery board, says Mani

Coimbatore: An all-party delegation led by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa should visit Delhi and make an appeal to the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board at the earliest, said PMK president, G.K. Mani.

Speaking to reporters while in Coimbatore on Sunday to choose the venue for party’s Kongu regional conference on July 12, G.K. Mani said that the political parties, burying their differences, should in one voice appeal to the Centre to constitute the long pending Cauvery Water Management Board.

Replying so to a query on non release of water from Mettur for irrigation on the normal date of June 12, the PMK leader said that despite the tribunal verdict, the water sharing issue continues to haunt TN.  

“Not opening the water from Mettur for irrigation purpose has taken a toll on farmers in the delta region. Constituting a board will, however, ensure proper release of water from Cauvery to the Mettur dam, which can be released on time to save farming,” he said.

The PMK has abstained from contesting in the R.K. Nagar bypolls in line with its policy of not contesting in any bypolls. “The party has also decided not to support any other political party or independent candidates in the bypolls,” he said, while lending no political significance to party leaders attending or meeting at marriages and functions.

Exuding the hope that around 10 lakh people from the western districts will attend the party's conference, Mr Mani said that it will be a platform to discuss on various issues ranging from power, problems faced by industries, and long pending Avanashi-Athikadavu water scheme.