Stalin opposes Centre's stand on construction of reservoir across river Cauvery

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], Dec 6 (ANI): Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president MK Stalin on Thursday said that the party will not accept the Centre's stand on permitting the Karnataka government to construct a reservoir across river Cauvery at Mekedatu.
Talking to media, Stalin said, "We cannot accept Central Government's stand on permitting Karnataka government to construct a reservoir in Mekedatu. We agree to move a resolution on Mekedatu but we also recommend a resolution on condemning the BJP government for giving permission to Karnataka. The Cauvery water management authority is not even made with strong policies, director of Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB) is also director of Central Water Commission (CWC) it not fair, at this juncture. It's totally against the order of the Supreme Court. We totally oppose it."
The DMK president said, "We wanted extension of the session for tomorrow to discuss issues relating to Gaja cyclone including distribution of funds and release of funds from the Centre but this point was also not accepted. We thoroughly criticise this stand of the government."
This water dispute dates back to the 1970s and has its origin in two agreements signed between the erstwhile Madras Presidency and the Princely State of Mysore in 1892 and 1924 in which it was decided to divide the river water between the two states, which lapsed in 1974.
Tamil Nadu then asked the Congress-ruled government at the Centre to form a tribunal to look into the diversion of water and ensure that it gets its due share. When the Centre did not pay heed to Tamil Nadu's demand, it approached the Supreme Court, which, in May 1990, ordered the creation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
Earlier on February 16, the Supreme Court had ordered the central government to set up the CMB and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) within six weeks of pronouncement of the order. (ANI)