R. ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, APRIL 29
The Central government has officially brought the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) under the Jal Shakti Ministry, officials said on Wednesday.
Reacting to this development, the DMK President M.K. Stalin, his alliance partners and AMMK said huge protests, by mobilising political parties and farmers, will be held if the Central government does not revoke its decision to bring the CWMA under Union Jal Shakti Ministry.
According to Stalin, the Central government’s move will affect Tamil Nadu’s farmers.
அதிமுக அரசால் காவிரி நதிநீர் உரிமை பல கட்டமாக பறிகொடுக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில், காவிரிநதிநீர் மேலாண்மை ஆணையத்தையும் மத்திய ஜல்சக்தி துறை அமைச்சகத்தின் கைப்பாவை அமைப்பாக மாற்றி உள்ளது மத்திய அரசு. #CWMA -ன் தன்னாட்சியை முடக்கும் முடிவினைத் திரும்பப் பெறாவிடில் போராட்டம் நடத்தப்படும். pic.twitter.com/GAK2Au1wjB
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) April 29, 2020
The CWMA was earlier under the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation. However, with the Modi government forming the Jal Shakti Ministry to deal with water-related issues, the Water Resources, River Development, and Ganga Rejuvenation have taken the form of a department under it, the officials said.
Water management authorities of other rivers too have been brought under the Jal Shakti Ministry as they were also under the erstwhile Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, an official said.
The decision is a mere formality that specifies the allocation of business, which means the authority, will have to report to the Jal Shakti Ministry, the official added.
In 2018, the Centre constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to address the dispute over sharing of river water among Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry.
Besides the members of riparian states, the board also has a nominee of the Centre. The official also added that move will have no impact on the independent nature of the functioning of the authority. The last meeting of the CWMA took place in February.
It’s only an administrative mechanism, will not affect delta farmers: PWD Secretary
Meanwhile, a release from the Principal Secretary of the Public Works Department in Chennai said that the government got clarification from the central government stating that the change is only for the administrative control of the CWMA and other WMAs, and these entities can function independently, the release added.
This will not be an impediment to get TN’s share of water from Cauvery through Cauvery Water Management Authority, the secretary said.
DMK, allies & AMMK demand rollback of govt move, threaten to stage protests.
The DMK President M.K. Stalin and his alliance partners on Wednesday said huge protests, by mobilising political parties and farmers, will be held if the Central government does not revoke its decision to bring the Cauvery Water Management Authority under Union Jal Shakti Ministry.
காவிரி மேலாண்மை ஆணையத்தை மத்திய நீர்வள அமைச்சகத்துடன் இணைத்தது அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது…
உடனடியாக அதை ரத்து செய்ய வேண்டும்! 1/2 pic.twitter.com/5VoG7ST2s0— TTV Dhinakaran (@TTVDhinakaran) April 29, 2020
Condemning the Central government’s decision, Stalin also urged the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K. Palaniswami to convene a Cabinet meeting and pass a resolution asking the Central government to drop its latest move.
Stalin said what was supposed to be an independent has been brought under the administrative control of the Central government which is nothing but injustice. According to Stalin, the Central government’s move will affect Tamil Nadu’s farmers.
In a statement, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan said the Centre should immediately withdraw its decision and wanted the Tamil Nadu government to move court against the decision.
MDMK chief Vaiko said the Centre should immediately withdraw the order failing which a big protest will be held in Tamil Nadu. AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran has also opposed the Centre’s decision.
