SC verdict clear, no need for meet: CM Edappadi K Palaniswami

Palaniswami, who inaugurated a flower show at Kodaikanal on Saturday and on his way back to Chennai on Sunday, addressed reporters at the Madurai airport. He said that former chief minister MG Ramachandran was the first person to voice for setting up of a Cauvery Management Board (CMB) in 1986 and following that in 2007 the Cauvery River Water Disputes Tribunal had ordered the Union government to release 192 tmc of water for Tamil Nadu but the orders were not complied with.

However, former chief minister J Jayalalithaa fought a legal battle and the judgment was printed in the gazette. In 2018, the Supreme Court had given a clear verdict that a body should be set up and water should be released to Tamil Nadu. Though the quantum of water had reduced, the judgment is clear that the water should be released by monsoon season and only now the Supreme Court had put an end to a long fought legal battle.

When asked about the demand of the opposition parties to convene an all party meeting over Cauvery issue, he replied that in the judgment it is clear that the Cauvery Water Management Authority will have full powers and the directions are specific in the judgment.

So, there is no need of an all-party meeting and let the people, who demand an all-party meeting, read the judgment completely, said Palaniswami.