Chidambaram: Issuing orders alone is not the commission’s job. Securing water for Tamil Nadu is also the commission’s job. If Karnataka refuses, the dam should be opened by seeking the assistance of the Central government, said P. R. Pandian, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers’ Association.
The campaign journey led by P.R. Pandian, by the Coordination Committee of All Tamil Nadu Farmers’ Associations, arrived in Chidambaram town on Thursday, urging that the construction of the Mekedatu dam be stopped, insisting that the Rasi Sand dam project be planned, and demanding that Tamil Nadu be rescued from drought.
This campaign tour began on September 20 in Poompuhar in Mayiladuthurai district and, after campaigning through the Cauvery delta regions and via Chennai, Puducherry, and Cuddalore, will conclude in Thiruvarur on Thursday evening.
Later, a campaign rally was held near the Gandhi statue in Chidambaram. At the meeting, P. R. Pandian, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association, spoke explaining the demands.
Cuddalore district secretary Manikkollai Ramachandran, Cuddalore district president Anbalagan, Kansa Sahib irrigation farmers association secretary Pichavaram Kannan, office-bearers Haja Moideen, Kumaratchi Tarasingh, Perumal, Sekar, Muthuraman, and municipal vice chairman Muthukumar, along with more than 50 farmers, participated.
Later, P.R. Pandian told reporters:
We began this campaign journey on the 20th from Poompuhar, where the Cauvery meets the sea. It is now in Chidambaram for the fifth day. It is scheduled to conclude in Thiruvarur on Thursday evening. On Wednesday morning, 18 party leaders in Chennai participated, offered their support, and signed. It is disappointing that both the DMK and the AIADMK did not come to participate.
However, during its tenure, the DMK had given a letter of approval for constructing a dam at Rasi Manal. Therefore, even though the DMK did not participate, the official letter they had issued was discussed at that meeting. Everyone who took part had signed, stating that the Rasi Manal dam is the alternative to Mekedatu. On Wednesday night, we also met Puducherry Chief Minister Rangasamy. We sought his support for the Rasi Manal dam. He said that no one had brought the Rasi Manal project to his attention so far. He said that after looking into it, he would sign soon.
We are going to collect all these signatures and soon meet the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, and strongly urge that the plan to immediately build a dam at Rasi Manal be initiated. This journey has turned out to be a successful one.
Since Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has newly come to power, we can present this proposal to them only after obtaining the approval of all political parties. It is on that basis that we have undertaken this campaign journey.
Issuing orders is not the commission’s only job
Karnataka is refusing to release water into the Cauvery. Ten days ago, the commission ordered the release of 6,000 cubic feet of water per second. Karnataka refused to accept that order and has kept the dam closed for a week. A Cauvery Management Authority meeting is scheduled to be held today. In that meeting, the authority itself must take steps to release water to Tamil Nadu based on the earlier order. Issuing orders alone is not the authority’s job. Securing water for Tamil Nadu is also the authority’s job. If Karnataka refuses, the dam should be opened by seeking the help of the Central government. The Cauvery tribunal and the Supreme Court have even granted permission to open the dam using the military if necessary. The Tamil Nadu government should explain this to the authority.
Indecent
It is indecent to expect that the matter must go all the way to the Supreme Court for a verdict. It is the Commission’s fault, not the fault of the farmers of Tamil Nadu or the Tamil Nadu government, that we keep trying to paralyze the Supreme Court’s own functions over this Cauvery water issue. He said that the Commission itself must take emergency measures for this.
