Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami urged the DMK in the Assembly on Monday to impress upon the Janata Dal (Secular)–Congress alliance government in Karnataka to nominate its members to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). However, DMK leader Duraimurugan said both the DMK and the AIADMK had understood that there could be no talks with the neighbouring State over the issue under any circumstances.
During a debate on the demand for grants for the Public Works Department, Mr. Palaniswami urged the DMK to capitalise on its “friendship and alliance” with Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and the Congress to impress upon the neighbouring State to nominate its members to CWMA and CWRC.
In his reply, DMK Deputy Floor Leader Duraimurugan said both the ruling AIADMK and the principal opposition DMK had come to realise that there was no scope for holding any talks with Karnataka over the issue “under any circumstances.”
‘Draft unclear’
In her speech later in the day, Congress whip S. Vijayadharani said the draft notification of CWMA and CWRC issued by the Centre was not clear, adding that ideally, the authority should have control of all the dams concerned.
In his reply, Mr. Palaniswami said the draft was clear, and except Karnataka, all the other States concerned had nominated their members to CWMA and CWRC.