The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution urging the Central government to intervene and direct the Karnataka government to release the state’s due share of Cauvery water.
Chief Minister M.K. Stalin moved the resolution urging the Karnataka government to release Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water as per Supreme Court guidelines.
Addressing the Assembly, Stalin said DMK will always stand firmly to protect the water rights of Tamil Nadu. “Karnataka hasn’t released the due share of water to Tamil Nadu this month. In June, Tamil Nadu received only 2.28tmc of water instead of 9.19tmc at Biligundalu,” Stalin said. The chief minister said the state’s water resources minister met union minister in this regard and sought his intervention for the release of water from Karnataka.
Stalin said Karnataka created an "artificial crisis" and had not released water from the river as per the apex court's directions.
The resolution was passed after a fierce debate with between Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami and the Treasury benches. The AIADMK, however, supported the resolution. Palaniswami recalled the various initiatives taken by the AIADMK regime on the inter-state river dispute and said adequate pressure should be exerted on the Centre over the matter. He recalled his party had stalled the Parliament for days over the issue a few years ago.
The resolution was declared passed unanimously by speaker M. Appavu after the BJP staged a walkout.
BJP legislators staged a walkout charging the resolution lacked of complete and permanent resolution to the dispute. Talking to presspersons, BJP legislator Vanathi Srinivasan said, “Chief Minister Stalin has been visiting Karnataka for alliance meetings. However, using his alliance strength, friendly rapport and influence with the alliance (party) government in Karnataka, Stalin hasn’t been able to bring Cauvery water to the state.”
Srinivasan said when the Dam Safety Bill was tabled in Parliament, DMK members opposed it saying the Centre shouldn’t interfere in State rights. “Today, a resolution has been passed urging Centre intervention to release Cauvery water. This shows DMK’s double standards,” Srinivasan said.
She added such issues did not arise when the BJP was ruling Karnataka. The BJP legislator charged the government is trying to deceive the public through this resolution.