CHENNAI: As political parties in Tamil Nadu clamour for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), the Federation of Tamil Nadu Agriculturists Associations (FTAA) has called upon the TN government to immediately move the Supreme Court for a review of its February 16 verdict on Cauvery dispute, demanding daily release of water from Karnataka in the proportion mentioned by the court.
The judgment has raised several crucial issues posing a constitutional crisis, particularly marring the harmony among states, and should be addressed immediately, says secretary of the FTAA C. Nallasami. He wondered why the successive governments in TN blame neighbouring Karnataka instead of finding ways to improve the agricultural prospects in the state.
“Nothing has been implemented so far, except the leaders being honoured with titles like Cauvery Thanthai and Cauvery Thai. They (governments) have failed to place certain arguments before the court like why should the rightful water meant for Tamil Nadu be stored in Karnataka dams and released to TN and Puducherry?” asked Nallasami.
Speaking to this correspondent on Wednesday, the senior leader asked “Secondly, there's no logic in allowing Karnataka to store water for TN and Puducherry. The 2007 verdict says the water should be released on a monthly basis. February 16, 2018, Supreme Court judgment is also similar but for the reduction in the quantum of water to be let out for the TN,” he said. If this is the case, then there is no need for Mettur dam built in 1934.
“If Karnataka is to release water to meet our state's requirement, then Mettur dam could as well be demolished and the land given back to people from whom it was acquired,” Nallasami said and added that the judgment should be revised as the same problems would arise if CMB is formed. The daily water release should be decided just like the price of petrol and diesel that is determined on a daily basis.
