Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

Minister for consensus on disputes

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The disputes between States over sharing natural resources such as water should be settled through consensus and not through legislation, Water Resources Minister N.K. Premachandran has said.

Inaugurating a seminar series on “Centre-State relations” organised by the Law Department of the University of Kerala here on Friday, Mr. Premachandran said the differences of opinion between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over sharing of water and constructing a new dam at Mullaperiyar should be settled through bilateral talks. If the talks failed to bear fruit, the Centre should step in to mediate. Since the tribunal awards were not implemented, such issues should be sorted out through talks, he said.

Following the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution, the State governments had devolved powers to local self-government institutions, but the Central government had not transferred powers to the States. There was concentration of power. Even vital issues pertaining to the States such as water, education and infrastructure development were being handled by the Centre without consulting the State governments.

This was true in the case of Centrally sponsored schemes too. Social welfare schemes, construction of roads and school buildings were being taken up under such schemes without considering the opinion of the State governments. Majority of the State governments had opposed the decision on linking of rivers as it went against their interests. All such issues should be reviewed, he said.

The economic reforms that were initiated during the past two decades had given more powers to the Centre. There was also a conscious attempt to infringe on the powers of the State governments. The Centre-State relations should be thoroughly revamped.

The Centre had not shown the political will to implement the recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission report.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

New bishop
Convene all-party meet: Chennithala
Insurance: drive to enrol farmers
Bid to revive ‘grand alliance’
Minister for consensus on disputes
One killed, five injured in accidents
KSRTC staff go on lightning strike
Medha receives award
Lawyers step up drive for High Court Bench
Tribal people to get land
In Thiruvananthapuram Today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu