Chennai: Taking strong exception to the Centre's contention that it is open to any nomenclature for the implementing authority of the scheme, Board, Authority or Committee, DMK working president M. K. Stalin said the scheme should be nothing short of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
Demanding the state government to convene an all-party meeting including the representatives from farming community on Tuesday, he said the meet should emphasise upon the constitution of the CMB and make it a legal entity so as to make it relevant for all practical purposes.
His demand comes close on the heels of the Centre submitting the Cauvery draft water management scheme to the Supreme Court earlier in the day. The Supreme Court bench took on record the draft scheme submitted by the Union water resource secretary and said it would peruse it and approve the scheme on May 16.
Expressing concerns over a body lacking legal powers, Mr Stalin said the onus was on the Tamil Nadu government to stress that it would not accept any body other than the CMB. The AIADMK government should convey its stand in the apex court on Wednesday when TN, along with other three southern states, has been asked to respond to the scheme.
Oppn parties want CMB empowered: Expressing in similar vein, other opposition parties in Tamil Nadu voiced their concerns on the scheme.
PMK founder Dr S. Ramadoss said the draft scheme would not have powers to implement the award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. “The proposed body is powerless and cannot implement the Tribunal's award,” he said and wondered who would implement the tribunal's award.
The PMK leader said dams built across the Cauvery in Karnataka would be under the control of that State, and hence the State government will not abide by the decisions of the proposed body. He demanded the Tamil Nadu government to oppose the Centre's proposal.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan too demanded the state government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss about the scheme submitted by the Centre before the Supreme Court.
TMC leader G. K. Vasan expressed the hope that the verdict to be delivered by the Apex court on May 16 should ensure a lasting solution and resolve the dispute once for all.
MDMK founder Vaiko said it remains to be seen if the Centre would empower the panel. “But it is most unlikely,” he added.
Claiming the issue was being politicised, MNM president and actor Kamal Haasan, called for unity among farmers and people of the State on the matter. He proposed to have a possible meeting with the next Karnataka chief minister on the issue and hoped for some solution since the head of that state “may be from any party, but he is also human.”
