Cauvery water row: Police detains TTV Dhinakaran for gheraoing Trichy airport

Former AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran, who launched his own political party Amma Makkal Munetra Kazhagam, was detained by police on Tuesday after he tried to gherao the Tiruchirappalli International Airport in Tamil Nadu's Tiruchirappalli over the ongoing row on Cauvery Mangement Board (CMB).

On Sunday, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) working president MK Stalin was detained in protest against Centre over the constitution of CMB. Congress leader S. Thirunavukkarasar and members of the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) including party chief T. Velmurugan were also arrested.

Earlier on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam sat on a hunger strike. Taking police by surprise, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) leaders sat on the hunger strike at 8 am and were later joined by several party members. 

Tamil Nadu has been demanding the formation of Cauvery Mangement Board. 

On February 16, the Supreme court reduced the state`s share of Cauvery water from 177.25 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), which was less than 192 TMC allocated by a tribunal in 2007. On the other hand, poll-bound Karnataka's share of water was increased by 14.75 TMC. 

The state has accused the BJP-led Centre of acting in favour of Karnataka polls. 

The SC granted the Centre six weeks to formulate a scheme to ensure compliance of its 465-page judgement, which modified the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award.

Following the verdict, Tamil Nadu has been urging the Centre to set up the Cauvery Water Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to ensure that it received its due share of water from the inter-state river.

The Centre has failed to set up the board within six weeks of the Supreme Court`s February 16 order. The deadline ended on March 29.

(With agency inputs)