The Puducherry unit of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam has urged the ruling Congress to convene a special session of the Assembly to pass a resolution demanding immediate constitution of the Cauvery Management Board.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, party whip Vaiyapuri Manikandan said the response of the ruling Congress to set up the Board was lukewarm.
An all-party meeting convened by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami in February had decided to send a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Again Mr. Palaniswami met DMK working president M.K. Stalin on Saturday on the issue. The Tamil Nadu government had been proactive in demanding the establishment of the Board.
‘Karaikal region hit’
The Karaikal region can receive its share only when Karnataka releases the quantum of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
Instead of blaming the Tamil Nadu government for not allocating water to Karaikal, Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy should press for early setting up of the Board, Mr. Manikandan said.
The Karaikal region was solely depended on the Cauvery water for irrigation. The region, which once cultivated around 1 lakh hectares of land, was now cultivating only 30,000 hectares owing to shortage of water, he said.
The AIADMK legislators are willing to resign if the Centre failed to set up the Board. Mr. Manikandan sought to know from the Congress and the DMK whether they were ready to resign on the issue.
