Cauvery water dispute | Duraimurugan assures T.N. delta farmers they will not be affected in any way

TN Water Resources Min. Duraimurugan assures farmers of Cauvery delta of govt's efforts to secure relief. Karnataka's response to CWRC's direction to be observed. TN to go to SC if needed; all-party meet to be considered after SC hearing on Sept 21. TN seeks to safeguard rights.

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan, on Wednesday, assured farmers of the Cauvery delta that the State government would make all efforts to ensure that they were not affected in any way.

Answering questions of journalists on the reported refusal of the Karnataka government to comply with the latest decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to release 5,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu, the Minister said, “We will definitely secure relief [for the farmers].” 

Pointing out that the formal response of the Karnataka government to the CWRC’s direction had to be observed, Mr. Duraimurugan said, “The last resort [for us] is to go to the Supreme Court, where the case [on the Cauvery issue] is coming up for hearing on September 21. By then, we will know their stand.” 

Though Karnataka has all along been opposing every development [in favour of Tamil Nadu] in the dispute, the Minister said, “We have been safeguarding our rights.” 

Asked whether an all-party meeting would be held in the State in the light of Karnataka holding one on September 13, 2023, the Minister replied that the question could be considered after the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court on September 21. 

To another question on whether the route of negotiations would be explored to resolve the issue, he shot back, saying that the State went in for adjudication only because talks did not lead to any fruitful result. “If any suggestion [in support of negotiations] is made, it is being done with malafide intentions.”

Earlier, in a statement issued on Tuesday night, the Minister expressed shock over the reaction of Karnataka to the CWRC’s decision. Alluding to the observations of his counterpart and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, he condemned them.