Cauvery flows into poll potpourri

Chennai, Apr 23: Amid lavish promises of free rice, colour TVs and creation of job opportunities, the vexed Cauvery issue, thanks to the Tribunal's split verdict, has found its way into the ensuing Assembly polls to Tamil Nadu.

Unlike earlier elections when it figured more prominently, the contentious issue has been virtually put on the backburner this time save for mention in poll manifestos of some political parties.

Thanks to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's 2:1 split verdict, directing the Centre to constitute a three-member committee to go into the crop pattern and water requirements of the four riparian states, the issue occupies centrestage now.

The Cauvery impasse has suddenly became the focal point of discussion and started dominating the election scenario, which was hitherto filled with last minute promises by the two major political combines -- the ruling AIADMK and the opposition DMK.

Some political parties and farmers associations expressed shock over the decision and sought the immediate intervention of the Prime Minister.

Though the Tribunal's directive would no doubt lead to further delay in delivering the final verdict, the states involved in the issue -- Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Pondicherry -- had been given just a week's time to respond to new development.

The issue did not generate much heat this time (until the Tribunal's directive), except for AIADMK Supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalaltihaa mocking at DMK's manifesto claiming the issue did not figure in it. She also alleged the DMK-led DPA which had won all the 40 seats in the 2004 Parliamentary polls was not evincing any interest in the welfare of the farmers.

Apart from AIADMK's manifesto, Ms Jayalalithaa, during her campaign trail in the Cauvery Delta areas, promised she would not rest till the state got its due share of water. She also assured that her Government would continue to take constructive legal measures in this regard.

She favoured setting up of a Cauvery Delta Authority with ''full powers'' for effective implementation of the final award of the tribunal which 'would be delivered soon.' The Chief Minister said her Government had sent a proposal to the Tribunal for forming such an authority, which should have powers to open the dam in Karnataka and release water if that state refused to release the due share of Tamil Nadu.

Hitting back, DMK President M Karunanidhi said the issue did figure in his party's manifesto and said all steps were being taken to protect the interests of farmers.

First to react to the tribunal directive was PMK Founder S Ramadoss, who urged the Tamil Nadu Government to challenge the order in the Supreme court and render justice to the farmers. Adopting a firm posture, Dr Ramadoss, who claimed that Ms Jayalalithaa had failed to resolve inter-state disputes by not meeting the Chief Ministers of riparian states, said the state government should not accept the Tribunal's order and instead show its solidarity by opposing the verdict tooth and nail.

''What forced the two members of the tribunal to give such a verdict when the Tribunal Chairman strongly opposed it, should be enquired into,'' he said.

Meanwhile the BJP and CPI expressed 'shock' over the development.

and urged the Prime Minister to intervene immediately and sort out the issue.

BJP General Secretary H Raja said at a time when Tamil Nadu was expecting the final verdict of the tribunal, the action of the two members in ordering a new committee was ''shocking.'' He also urged Dr Manmohan Singh to take resolute steps to get the interim award of the tribunal (directing Karnataka to release 205 tmcft of water) endorsed by the Supreme Court.

Dismissing the tribunal's directive as an ''opinion'' more than an ''order'', CPI State Secretary D Pandian said after examining an issue for 16 long years, constitution of an expert committee will be an ''irresponsible act''.

The Cauvery Delta Farmers' Association expressed shock over the verdict and questioned the need for a committee when there were already a group of assessors within the tribunal who could provide details on crop pattern and the water requirements of the riparian states.

Surely, the next Government, which will assume office after the May eight Assembly polls, will have its hands full, with the issue cropping up again.

UNI