Tamil Nadu urges Centre to advise Karnataka over dam

Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday passed a resolution urging the central government to constitute Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority (CWRA).

The resolution moved by Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam and passed unanimously in the assembly comes a day ahead of the shut-down called by farmers against Karnataka's plans to build a dam across Cauvery river.

The resolution also urged the central government to advise Karnataka to stop preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for building the dam at Mekedatu and not to carry out any activities for building a dam or reservoir there without Tamil Nadu's permission till the Cauvery Management Board is set up.

Panneerselvam also urged all members of parliament from the state to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and give him a copy of the resolution.

Karnataka in its 2015-16 budget has allocated funds for preparation of DPR for the dam in Mekedatu.

Protesting Karnataka's move, farmers' associations in Tamil Nadu have called for a state-wide shut-down on Saturday.

Major political parties in the state have extended their support to the farmer's agitation.

Tamil Nadu is protesting Karnataka's proposal to build a dam which, it says, violates the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal's final award since it would affect flow of water into Tamil Nadu.