Cauvery water for Karaikal;CM should act fast to protect ryots

: Opposition AIADMK today demanded that Chief Minister V Narayanasamy bring in a resolution in the ongoing budget session to condemn Karnataka's 'negative stand' in releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, as it would ryots in Karaikal, who are dependent on it.
AIADMK legislature wing leader A Anbalagan told reporters that Karnataka's stand was letting down farmers in Tamil Nadu. Consequently farmers in Karaikal area in Puducherry region in the delta zone at the tail end of the Cauvery basin would also face severe hardship for want of water from Karnataka.
He urged the Chief Minister to act fast and protect farmers of Karaikal by procuring water.

He said the government should also move the Supreme Court along the lines of the stand taken by Tamil Nadu and ensure that Puducherry's share in the Cauvery water as mandated by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal is made available.
Karaikal is entitled to 7 tmc feet of water as per the verdict of the tribunal.
Anbalagan said the CM should ensure that the current Assembly session adopt the resolution to condemn Karnataka's negative stand and ensure water availabaility to Karaikal.

The budget being presented by the Chief Minister tomorrow should also highlight steps to disburse retirement benefits to workers and staff of government owned AFT mills, who had taken voluntary retirement, but were now living in penury, he said.

Anbalagan criticised government's 'silence' on availability of seats to students who had cleared NEET for admission to private medical colleges.
There was no clear information on the number of candidates who had successfully cleared NEET and government should get clear information from CBSE which conducted the test, he said.