Tirunelveli, Aug 1 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Minister, Nirmal Kumar, on Saturday said approaching the Supreme Court was the only viable option available to the State to secure its rightful share of Cauvery water from Karnataka, alleging that successive governments in the neighbouring State had been unwilling to release water to Tamil Nadu.
Speaking to reporters in Tirunelveli, Nirmal Kumar said the Tamil Nadu government would take all necessary steps to protect the State’s interests and ensure that its legitimate share of Cauvery water was secured.
He criticised the Union Jal Shakti Minister’s approach to the dispute, alleging that the Centre had failed to understand Tamil Nadu’s concerns.
He also accused the Union Minister of speaking in favour of Karnataka’s proposal to construct a dam and acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu.
According to Nirmal Kumar, individual States have limited scope to resolve an interstate river water dispute and the Union government has a crucial role in implementing decisions relating to water sharing.
He alleged that Karnataka’s position on the Cauvery remained largely unchanged irrespective of whether the BJP or the Congress was in power in the State.
“Whether it is the BJP or the Congress government in Karnataka, their objective appears to be the same — not to release water to Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the Supreme Court is the only solution available to us to secure water from Karnataka,” he said.
Responding to questions on PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss’ remarks that Karnataka was ruled by the Congress and that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi could intervene in the dispute, Nirmal Kumar questioned why similar demands had not been raised when the PMK had previously been allied with the Congress.
He also referred to the period when the Cauvery-related notification was published in the Gazette and questioned the position taken by Anbumani at that time.
Reporters asked the Minister why Rahul Gandhi had not spoken publicly on the present Cauvery dispute and whether his intervention could help persuade the Congress government in Karnataka to release water.
Nirmal Kumar maintained that the dispute could not be resolved merely through political interventions. Since the Cauvery dispute involved two States and legally determined water-sharing obligations, the appropriate course was to seek relief through the Supreme Court, he said.
Asked when Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay would convene an all-party meeting to discuss the Cauvery situation, Nirmal Kumar said the Chief Minister would take an appropriate decision on holding such a meeting.
He reiterated that the State government would pursue every available legal and administrative measure to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery water rights.
–IANS
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