Chennai: Locked in a fresh row with Karnataka over the decades-long Cauvery river water dispute, Tamil Nadu government on Monday said it was making all efforts to "protect our rights" on the issue.
Tamil Nadu had recently moved the Supreme Court against
utilisation of Cauvery water for summer irrigation in the
neighbouring state, with Karnataka taking exception to Tamil
Nadu`s stand and asserting that it would not allow any
injustice to its own farmers.
"In the Cauvery river water dispute, this government is
taking all efforts to protect our rights," Finance Minister O
Panneerselvam said presenting the budget for 2012-13 in the
Assembly.
While the budget did not make any reference to the latest
row, Tamil Nadu`s assurance comes in the backdrop of it moving
the apex court against utilisation of Cauvery water by
Karnataka for summer irrigation.
Karnataka had also moved the Supreme Court against a
Tribunal`s final award granting 419 tmcft of water to Tamil
Nadu and 270 tmcft to the former under the water-sharing
agreement.
On the vexed Mullaperiyar dam stand-off with Kerala,
Panneerselvam said the government "is committed" to raising
the water level to 142 ft, as ordered by the Supreme Court in
2006.
"As per the direction of the Chief Minister (J Jayalalithaa)
the government has presented its case strongly before the
Empowered Committee appointed by the Supreme Court and this
committee is expected to submit its report shortly," he said.
PTI
