TN will take all legal steps against Karnataka plan on Cauvery, vows OPS

Replying to the debate on the motion of thanks to the Governor for his address in the Assembly, he said the state government, under the guiding principles of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa would take all legal steps to prevent Karnataka from constructing any dam, including the one at Mekedatu, in violation of the tribunal’s final order. 

Pointing out that it was Jayallaithaa who had taken all possible steps to protect the state’s right and get its due share of waters in various inter-state river water issues, he said because of the legal battle waged by her, the Centre had notified the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in the government gazette after six years. "But the Centre is yet to constitute the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC) for implementing the final award of the Tribunal", he added. 

Panneerselvam said the Supreme Court had on September 30, 2016 directed the Centre to constitute the CMB within four days. But the Centre had opposed it and filed a plea in the Court on October 3, 2016 seeking to reconsider the direction and withdraw it, he added. 

"Following this the Apex court had deferred its order and had said that all the appeals filed on the issue would be taken up for hearing on a day to day basis from February 7," he added.

Panneerselvam said as per the interim award, Karnataka has to release 2,000 cusecs of water on a daily basis. ‘’Of the 67,140 tmc ft water realised at Biligundu following release of water by Karnataka from June 2016 to January 24, 2017, 30,642 tmc ft was received due to the intervention of the Supreme Court,” he added. 

While exuding confidence that Tamil Nadu would get a favourable verdict from the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister firmly believed that a favourable verdict would ensure that the state get its due share of Cauvery waters from Karnataka by setting up the CMB and the CWRC.