Don't handle Cauvery dispute with eye on Karnataka elections: DMK tells BJP

Two opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday expressed "shock" over what they called the Centre's "dithering" over the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) as per the Supreme Court order.

In a statement here, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement on the issue was "shocking" and "it seemed the central government is washing its hands off the issue".

On Monday, Shipping and Water Resources Minister Gadkari had allegedly declined to give an assurance on setting up the CMB, maintaining that it is a "complex task".

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

"Gadkari is reflecting Karnataka government's stand on the issue and his views are nothing but contempt of the court," Ramadoss added.

He said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been cheating Tamil Nadu when it comes to the Cauvery river water dispute.

Ramadoss said instead of waiting further, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami should lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter and take necessary steps to see that the CMB is set up.

DMK leader M.K. Stalin also condemned Gadkari's views in a tweet.

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