Seeking Justice On Cauvery Issue: Tamil Nadu Set To Witness Rallies And Shutdowns Next Week

The controversy over sharing Cauvery river water with Karnataka will see protests, rallies and shutdown next week in Tamil Nadu. Upset over the Centre’s failure to set up Cauvery management board as directed by the Supreme Court, political parties across Tamil Nadu have chalked out plans in an effort to prove that they are not left behind in taking up the state’s causes.

Cadres of the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will stage fasts in districts across Tamil Nadu on 3 April, though Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam will not be taking part. Times of India quoted party sources as saying that the two would keep off the fast to maintain a close watch on the law and order situation.

On Saturday, fringe groups in Tamil Nadu tried to stage protests on Marina Beach in Chennai, but police foiled their attempt. Chennai Police Commissioner A K Viswanathan said that those wanting to stage protests should seek permission from the police stations in the area before conducting such rallies.

On its part, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) convened an all-party meeting at its headquarters on Sunday. The parties decided to observe a total closure in the state on 5 April. The meeting also sought the participation of the ruling AIADMK. The DMK has also decided to take out a number of rallies in southern districts demanding the restoration of Cauvery waters, reports Tamil newspaper, the Daily Thanthi.

Farmers’ groups in southern Tamil Nadu are also planning to stage demonstrations this week demanding Cauvery water.

Meanwhile, the Centre has filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking three months’ time besides seeking clarification on the apex court’s order. The Centre argued that Cauvery is an emotive issue and hence it could trigger unrest in Karnataka at a time when assembly polls are due on 12 May. It also sought to know if it could frame a scheme for sharing of the Cauvery river water by modifying the recommendations of the Cauvery tribunal.

On 16 February this year, the Supreme Court awarded an additional 14.75 thousand million cubic feet of water to Karnataka to meet its drinking water needs. The court also ordered setting up a Cauvery water management board within six weeks, the deadline for which ended on 30 March.

On the other hand, Tamil Nadu government has filed a contempt case against Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha and Union Water Resources Secretary U P Singh for their disobedience in implementing the Supreme Court order on sharing of Cauvery river water.