Centre has no option except Cauvery Management Board: TN CM

Chennai March 10 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami on Saturday asserted that the central government has to set up the Cauvery Management Board and Caurvery Water Regulatory Committee in line with the apex court s order.

In a statement here Palaniswami said officials from the state clearly conveyed this aspect at a meeting called by the Union Water Resources Ministry on Friday in New Delhi.

Palaniswami also said that the Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu are protesting in New Delhi demanding the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee.

The apex court on February 16 had ordered the central government to set up the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee within six weeks.

The Supreme Court has reduced Tamil Nadu s share in the Cauvery water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) down from 192 TMC allocated by a tribunal in 2007.

He said the Supreme Court in its February 16 order has clearly said a scheme has to be drawn up to implement the final award and other orders of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal given on February 5 2007.

Palaniswami said the scheme is nothing but setting up of Cauvery Mangement Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee.

He also said the Supreme Court in its February 16 order while changing the share of Caurvery water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has clearly said there is no change in the award given by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.

--IANS
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