Chennai: MDMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on Saturday expressed support to the August 19 bandh in the Cauvery delta districts demanding the setting up of Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulations Committee.
MDMK general secretary Vaiko expressing his party’s support said, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had specified the mechanism for sharing of water. After the tribunal verdict, the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee should have been formed. The Krishnaraja Sagar, Kabini, Hemavathi and Herangi dams would have come under the control of the management board and the regulation committee would have the power to release water from Cauvery.
Karnataka suggested a temporary supervising committee and the Supreme Court accepted it as an interim arrangement. But, the supervising committee did not have legal authority to release water and so agriculture in Tamil Nadu had been severely affected for the last three years, he said.
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan alleged that the AIADMK government did not put sufficient pressure on the Centre to form the two organisations required to implement the tribunal’s final verdict. State government should invite the farmers’ representatives for talks and convene an all-party meeting, he added.
