Stating that the Supreme Court was the last hope for Tamil Nadu to resolve the Cauvery water dispute, Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar on Saturday said the Union Government, instead of favouring one particular State in interstate-water sharing disputes, should take control of the dams and their operation and ensure release of water.
Speaking to reporters here, he said the only option available before the Tamil Nadu Government now for resolving the dispute was the Supreme Court, as successive Karnataka governments, irrespective of the political parties ruling the State, had been determined not to share the river water with Tamil Nadu.
The 50-year agreement between Madras Presidency and Mysore on sharing Cauvery water that lapsed in 1974 should have been renewed. However, the great opportunity was missed by the then DMK government in power. Hence, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which had the power to take control of the dam if the Authority’s order for releasing water was not honoured by Karnataka, was approached. However, the great opportunity Tamil Nadu had in 1998 was also missed by the then DMK government led by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and then PWD Minister Durai Murugan.
