S Ramadoss asks Centre to reject K'taka's opposition to Cauvery management board

Chennai: Describing the Supreme Court verdict to form the Cauvery Management Board as a rare opportunity to find a permanent solution, PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Friday said the centre should not accept the demand of Karnataka not to form the CMB.

The state government should exert pressure on the centre to form a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) with full powers similar to the Bhakra-Beas board to share water and electricity between Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh.

The PMK leader strongly condemned the statement of Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah that neither Karnataka nor Tamil Nadu asked for the constitution of the CMB. He had told the Union water resources minister that Tamil Nadu had not asked for a board to rope in the centre for his state's deceptive action.

Tamil Nadu had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking the formation of the CMB and the case is pending, he pointed out. When hearing the petition, the SC formed the Cauvery supervisory panel only as an arrangement. Even if TN did not ask for a CMB, the SC had the power to direct the centre to form the CMB, Ramadoss asserted.

Accusing the leaders in Karnataka of trying to create confusion by pressuring the centre not to form the CMB. He said the CMB is the only solution for the Cauvery water dispute and SC had the power to give an order on the dispute.