Thanjavur: Farmers welcome new Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal chief

Thanjavur: Farmers of Cauvery delta districts welcomed the appointment of Abhay Manohar Sapre, sitting Judge of Supreme court as the chairman of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on Monday.

J.S. Khehar, Chief Justice of India made the appointment. Mr. S. Ragananthan, secretary of Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association welcomed the appointment. “With the Supreme court planning to take up the hearing on the appeals on the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on a daily basis from March and quickly disposing them, appointment of Chairman to the Tribunal is welcome”, he said.

Mr Ranganathan also said that should the Supreme court again refer the Cauvery case to the Tribunal, the latter should have a head and be functional. Appointment of chairman to the Tribunal will help the three-member judicial body, Mr. Ranganathan said.

Mr Sami Nadarajan, secretary of Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam affiliated to CPI (M) and Sundara Vimalanathan, secretary of the Thanjai district Cauvery Protection Committee, also welcomed the appointment. They also said that the issue should not be further delayed and a solution should be arrived at the earliest in the interests of farmers.