Form panel of farmers and parties to discuss water issue

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Tol Thirumavalavan today suggested setting up of a committee, comprising representatives of all political parties and farmers associations, to discuss vexed inter-State water disputes.
The committee, thus constituted, should meet the prime minister and put forward the water rights of Tamil Nadu on rivers like Cauvery, Palar, Siruvani and Mekedatu, so that a permanent solution could be arrived at, Thirumavalavan told reporters here.
Alleging that the state government was hesitating to convene an all party meeting to discuss such serious issues, he said his party always preferred such meetings so that a solution could be found from different opinions.

On reports appearing in social media that VCK was supporting Karnataka on Cauvery issue, Thirumavalavan said the post was an old one, which, he alleged, was being exploited by pro-Kannada organisations.
"VCK will always stand and fight for the cause of Tamil Nadu," he said.
Thirumavalavan welcomed Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah writing to the prime minister on convening a meeting of the chief ministers of riparian states to discuss the Cauvery water dispute.
On local body polls, he said his party will fight it in the company of left parties and MDMK.