Jaya urges Karunanidhi to move SC on Cauvery

Expressing dismay over the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's verdict, former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa on Tuesday urged the state government to immediately move the Supreme Court to secure enhanced quantity of water.

Flaying the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government for welcoming the award, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader, in a statement in Chennai, said the 192 tmcft of water ordered to be released to Tamil Nadu by the tribunal in its final award was less than the 205 tmcft of water ordered in its interim award.

Stating that there was nothing to welcome in the final award, Jayalalithaa alleged that the award marked Karunanidhi's 'continued betrayal' in the issue and demanded the DMK government's resignation owning moral responsibility.

Of the 192 tmcft of water, if Tamil Nadu apportioned seven tmcft of water to the Union Territory of Puducherry, as directed by the tribunal, its share of water would go down to just 185 tmcft of water, which was 20 tmcft less than what was ordered in the interim award, she said.

On the tribunal apportioning 30 tmcft of water to Kerala, she said Kerala did not have enough ayacut areas, warranting 30 tmcft of water for cultivation. The water would only flow into the sea, she said, adding that moreover, the tribunal's directive to release six tmcft of water to Kerala from Bhavani river will pose a grave threat to the farmers, especially those in the Bhavanisagar area.