DPA urges Cauvery Tribunal to withdraw its split verdict

Chennai, Apr 25: The DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA) today urged the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) to withdraw its April 21 verdict, directing the Central government to constitute an expert committee to took into the crop pattern and water requirements of the riparian states.

A resolution adopted at a meeting of DPA leaders, chaired by DMK President M Karunanidhi, said the order was unacceptable and gave rise to suspicion that it was an attempt to delay the final verdict.

At a time when the people of Tamil Nadu were expecting that the Tribunal gave its final verdict at the earliest, especially after it had passed the interim order in 1991, the recent order has come as a surprise, it said.

Besides creating confusion, the April 21 order sought to defeat the very purpose of constituting the Tribunal, the resolution said.

''Hence the Tribunal must withdraw its 21 split verdict and pass the final orders, based on the submission made by the riparian states at the earliest. The Centre should also initiate steps to ensure that the Tribunal pass its final orders at the earliest''. the resolution said.

The resolution also called upon the people of the state and farmers to send telegrams to the Tribunal with the message 'Please reconsider the order passed by the two members of the Tribunal on Apr 21.'

UNI