Karunanidhi seeks Tamil Nadu response to Kerala stand on river inter-linking

Chennai: With Kerala opposed to inter-linking of two of its rivers with Tamil Nadu's Vaipar, DMK chief M Karunanidhi on Friday sought to know Tamil Nadu Government's stand on it as he mocked at arch rival and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa over taking credit for upholding the state's rights on inter-state water disputes.

He was referring to the statement of Kerala Minister for Water Resources, P J Joseph that the project, proposed by National Water Development Agency, was not viable.

"What is Tamil Nadu government's response to this?" Karunanidhi asked in a statement.

In a written reply in the Assembly earlier this week, Joseph said Kerala has taken a stand that the project was not viable as the expert committee reports (study report of Delhi IIT) had shown that there was no excess water in Pampa and Achenkovil to take up the linking with Vaipar.

Taking a dig at Jayalalithaa for insisting that the rights of Tamil Nadu on river Cauvery and the Mullaperiar dam had been upheld due to her efforts, he asked if the Cauvery row had been settled.

"Has the (Cauvery) Management Board been constituted? Have Tamil Nadu's rights on Mullaperiar issue completely upheld?" he asked.