The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : `Central legislation must to resolve water disputes'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Sep 13, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

`Central legislation must to resolve water disputes'

By Our Special Correspondent

YERCAUD, SEPT. 12. Expressing concern at the increasing prevalence of disputes over river water sharing, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has urged the Centre to introduce a law to distribute river water among the States.

The "selfish approach'' of a few States discouraged any amicable settlement, the executive committee said. Tamil Nadu, for three decades, had been betrayed in the Cauvery issue. The approach adopted to resolve the issues was grossly inadequate. Hence, it became necessary for the Centre to arm itself with more powers to resolve the disputes. It should enact legislation under Central List No. 56 of the Constitution for the utilisation of river water in a fair manner by States.

It condemned the observations reportedly made by the Chief Election Commissioner that national-level political parties alone could safeguard the national interests. Had the national parties protected the interests of the nation, river water disputes could not have reared its head, it said and urged the CEC to withdraw his statements.

Thanking the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, and the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, for sanctioning mega projects for Tamil Nadu, it urged the Centre to establish a Supreme Court Bench in Chennai. Caste-wise census and a rotation system for reserved Parliament and Assembly constituencies were its other demands. It expressed its anguish over the frequent killings of Indian fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy. The Centre should initiate action to retrieve Katchatheevu and its surrounding seas to ensure the safety of Indian fishermen.

The Centre should bring in necessary constitutional amendments to encourage reservation in the private sector, self-financing colleges and deemed universities. While opposing privatisation of education, it decried the confusion in admission to professional courses.

`Shun negative politics'

The executive also thanked the Union Health Minister, R. Anbumani, and the Minister of State for Railways, R. Velu, for their contributions to the State.

Blaming the AIADMK government for treating the opposition parties as ``foes,'' the executive drew attention to Karnataka parties coming together while dealing with State issues, particularly the Cauvery problem. The AIADMK should shun negative politics and must come forward to "embrace the opposition parties'' while fighting for Tamil Nadu's interests. Only then the Sethusamudhram project could be implemented and the Cauvery dispute could be solved, it noted.

Many districts in the Tamil Nadu were still reeling under severe drought. The Government should implement employment-generation schemes such as "food for work.'' While implementing the scheme, manpower, not machines, should be utilised.

With the northeast monsoon round the corner, crop loans through cooperatives should be made freely available. Subsidised electricity should be supplied to power looms. The Government should reject the State Election Commission recommendation insisting the two-child norm for contesting local body election. Privatisation of bus routes and cooperative sugar mills should be dropped.

The PMK founder- leader, S. Ramadoss, delivered the valedictory address on the concluding day of the two-day meet. Dr. Anbumani addressed the gathering.

Mr. Velu and party president G. K. Mani, attended the meeting.

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