Vaiko appeals to Prime Minister to constitute Cauvery Management Board

CHENNAI: BJP ally MDMK today appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to constitute Cauvery Management Board, saying it was the 'duty' of the Centre to do so.

Party chief Vaiko in a letter to Modi said there "is no rationale on the part of the Karnataka Government to oppose the constitution" of the CMB.

The final award of the Cauvery Tribunal had said that constituting such a body was of "utmost importance" to implement its decision, which he recalled had been mentioned by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to Modi in a letter on Friday.

"Therefore, it is the duty of the Union Government of India to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to implement the final order of the Tribunal," he said in the letter.

Vaiko said farmers in the Cauvery delta region had 'suffered losses' for the past two years due to "inadequate release of water in Cauvery from Karnataka."

"I would request you to take necessary steps to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee so that the final order of the Tribunal is implemented and justice is rendered to the people of Tamil Nadu," he said.