Tamil Nadu to counter Karnataka’s contention on CMB

A delegation of bureaucrats comprising Tamil Nadu Public Works Division (PWD) Secretary SK Prabhakar and state’s Cauvery Technical Cell Chairman R Subramanian would meet the Ministry of Water Resources officials in Delhi on Tuesday.

Sources said the delegation would submit a strong counter to Karnataka Chief Secretary K Ratna Prabha’s letter to UP Singh, Secretary to Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), against constituting the Cauvery Management Board (CMB). 

The decision to issue a rejoinder to the Karnataka letter was taken by the administration soon after news about Prabha’s letter trickled out. “The rejoinder would set out in detail as to how the formation of the CMB is integral part of the final verdict given by the Supreme Court. It would point out the fact that the apex court had upheld the Cauvery Tribunal order which includes the Board,” said a senior official. 

Following approval from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, the delegation would meet the MoWR officials in person and impress them to form the CMB. 

Earlier in the day, Prabhakar had back-to-back meetings on Cauvery, deliberating the issue at length with the department top brass and the Technical Cell. It is said the officials had also prepared dossiers for legal recourse as well in case the deadline was not met by the Centre. Sources said the delegation would also meet legal advisors representing the state in the national capital in this regard. 

“We would first impress the MoWR to set up the CMB as a last-ditch effort ahead of the deadline. If the Centre fails us, we would seek legal recourse. We have told the officials to keep our legal advisors and counsels posted on the state’s stand and requirements in any case,” a senior official told DT Next. 

Karnataka’s letter slammed the contention of TN on formation of the CMB as contrary to the law while stating that TN ’s rights are confined to the right to receive 177.25 tmcft of water in a normal year and a proportionate share based on the ground reality in a distress year.