PWF seeks Pranab Mukherjee's help on Cauvery

New Delhi: Leaders of People’s Welfare Front on Friday met President Pranab Mukherjee and sought his intervention in the setting up of Cauvery Water Management Board. A statement issued by MDMK said that President has assured the delegation that he would call for the files in connection with formation of Cauvery Management Board. A delegation of PWF leaders comprising CPI national secretary and MP D. Raja, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, CPI (M) state secretary G. Ramakrishnan and his party MP T.K. Rangarajan, CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan and VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan submitted a memorandum to the President containing their demands.

“Cauvery does not belong to any particular state. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are riparian states and they have same rights over the river. We requested the President to safeguard the rights of Tamil Nadu and to speed up the Constitution of Cauvery Management Board,” Raja told reporters outside the Rashtrapati Bhawan. Pointing to the Supreme Court’s direction on September 20 and 30 to the central government to constitute the CWMB, the memorandum said, “It is shocking that Attorney General, who accepted the verdict in Court, has filed an affidavit on behalf of the Centre on October 3 stating that the SC cannot issue orders constituting the CWMB. By this action, the Central government has failed in its duty to function constitutionally and without bias in a matter involving a dispute between two states. This action makes it clear that the Central government has taken a partisan stand against Tamil Nadu.”

Mr Vaiko said that the alleged denial of water has resulted in a loss of Rs 8,000 crore to Tamil Nadu this year. “Cauvery delta district which is hailed as rice bowl, is now being reduced to the state of begging bowl,” he lamented The PWF leaders criticised Karnataka also over its plans of constructing two dams on the river, expressing apprehensions that it will result in a drought-like situation in 16 districts of Tamil Nadu including its capital Chennai. “We requested the President to consider our concerns regarding these issues to which he assured to take necessary steps.” Vaiko said.

When asked about the Front’s silence over the issue for the past two years even after the publication of award in the Central government gazette, Vaiko said the front had not taken up the issue in the way it has now as the previous UPA government had not ruled out the formation of the Board. “But now, it’s the Modi government which is saying that it won’t constitute the Board. They are denying us justice, therefore prompting us to raise the issue now,” Vaiko added.