Pressure builds on TN to ensure Centre sets up Cauvery board

Pressure is building on the AIADMK-led government in Tamil Nadu to ensure that the Centre sets up the Cauvery Management Board spelt out in the final verdict of the Supreme Court last month. After the Supreme Court reduced the quantum of water to be released to the lower riparian state, Tamil Nadu had convened an all-party meeting in late February to garner opinion on how the state should advance its interests.

In a statement after the meeting, the chief minister had asserted the Centre had little option but to set up the Cauvery Management Board and a supervisory committee to monitor monthly release of water, despite a reduction from 192 tmcft to 177 tmfct to be let into Tamil Nadu.

MPs representing the AIADMK have been consistently speaking in Parliament about the conspicuous delay in efforts from the Centre to set up the board, besides holding protests to pressurise the Centre.


On Monday, deputy speaker of Lok Sabha M Thambidurai, told reporters that Parliamentarians from Tamil Nadu “would not allow business to take place in the house” till the Centre takes steps to set up the board. Even as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka engage lawyers on further course of action, clamour has increased for AIADMK MPs to step down as a pressure tactic.

Karnataka is confident that the Centre will go easy on the mechanism to administer Cauvery schemes till the state assembly elections due in May are done. “It will backfire badly on the BJP if they act right away,” a Congress leader pointed out. Chief minister Siddaramaiah held an all party-meeting on the matter, which decided to take and follow legal opinion on whether a review should be filed or not.

In Tamil Nadu, leader of opposition MK Stalin had on Saturday written a letter to the chief minister urging him to convene a special assembly session to discuss the Cauvery dispute. The AIADMK, however, believes resignations are not necessary at the moment.