Modi mum on TN CM's demand for Cauvery Management Board

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday steered clear of the demand by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to implement the Supreme Court's order for setting up a Cauvery Management Board in the river water dispute.

At the launch function of 'Amma Two Wheeler Scheme' for working women, Palaniswami requested Modi "to take speedy action to form the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee as per the directions of the Honourable Supreme Court."

Modi was here to launch the Amma Two Wheeler Scheme and also the scheme to plant 70 lakh tree saplings this year as a part of 70th birth anniversary celebration of former Chief Minister, the late J. Jayalalithaa.

However, in his around 15 minute speech, he did not respond to the Chief Minister's plea.

On February 22, a meeting of Tamil Nadu political party leaders and representatives of farmers associations unanimously decided to send an all-party delegation to meet Modi soon and urge him to set up the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee as per Supreme Court orders.

The delegation would be headed by Palaniswami, as per the resolution adopted at the meeting of all parties held at the state secretariat.

According to the resolution, the all party delegation would consist of party leaders, MPs and farmers' representatives.

The meeting also resolved that the state government would hold discussions with the legal experts and take appropriate action on the reduction of Cauvery water allocation to Tamil Nadu as per the apex court order.

The Supreme Court on February 16, reduced Tamil Nadu's share of the Cauvery river water to 177.25 TMC, down from 192 TMC allocated by a tribunal in 2007.

The all-party meeting was called to discuss the issue and also the legal ways to be explored to secure the state's rights.

--IANS

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