Cauvery Raises Its Ugly Head in Political Discourse

 Chennai: The long-drawn controversial dispute over the sharing of Cauvery river water between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka raised its ugly head in the political discourse suddenly with Karnataka Irrigation Minister Ramalinga Reddy declaring that it would not release water to Tamil Nadu and that no one had raised a demand for that and opposition leaders hitting back by targeting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Udhayanidhi Stalin and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami put out separate statements urging Vijay to put pressure on Karnataka government, ruled by the Congress, and ensure that water was released for the benefit of delta farmers.

Pointing out that the TVK has forged a ‘sudden’ alliance with the Congress, he said the Chief Minister should prevail upon the Congress government in Karnataka to honour its commitment, as per the verdict of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, of providing 9.91 TMC water for the month of June and another 32 TMC for July to the neighboring riparian State of Tamil Nadu.

While the Mettur reservoir was opened on or before the stipulated date of June 12 in the all the five years of DMK rule, the reservoir had not been opened at all this year, after the TVK took charge, he said, adding that Vijay has been keeping mum on Karnataka not releasing 9.91 TMC for the month of June and now refusing to release the 32 TMC water that was due for July, he said.

Palaniswami also urged the TVK government to ensure that water was released in the River Cauvery and regretted that the Congress ruled Karnataka, with its arrogant, power drunk and dictatorial attitude, was not bothered about disrupting the fraternal feelings between the two States.

He said that the delta farmers were dependent on water from the Cauvery for their agricultural needs and that over 20 districts depended on it to meet their drinking water needs. Karnataka never honoured the verdicts of the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority or Tamil Nadu’s rights over the water.

Udhyanidhi Stalin also said that the TVK government should concentrate on getting the water due for the State and not just be concerned about buying MLAs.

Palaniswami challenged the TVK, asking it if it could give an ultimatum to the Congress by stating that the Congress Ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet would be dropped if water was not released in the Cauvery by Karnataka