No more clarifications, final verdict on Cauvery soon

Chennai, July 27 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy today informed the State Assembly that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal would pronounce its final verdict soon.

Quoting reports from New Delhi, Mr Ponmudy, holding additional charge as PWD Minister, said the Tribunal met today and said it would not seek any more clarifications from the States concerned and would pronounce its final verdict soon.

''This is a very good news'', he said, referring to concerns raised by some members whether there would be any delay in the final verdict following differences between the Tribunal Chairman and its Members.

Earlier, participating in the debate on the budget, MDMK member Ramakrishnan, cited the differences within the Tribunal, and urged the State government to take steps for early pronouncement of the verdict.

On the Mullaiperiyar dam issue, he said, the state government should pevail upon the Centre to raise the storage level in the dam to 152 ft, as it would benefit 3.5 lakh acres of land for irrigation and meet the drinking water needs of the five districts in and around the dam.

While Tamil Nadu favoured increase in the storage level, Kerala insisted that it would not increase from the present level of 136 ft.

Regarding this matter, Mr Ramakrishnan said that the dead storage was upto 104 ft and the water could not be used. The remaining 32 ft water could only be used, which amounted to 6118 Million Cubic Feet (MCF).

''If the storage level was raised to 152 ft, we will get 7666 MCF of water, benefitting irrigation in 3.5 lakh acres of lands'', he added.

UNI GV AJ LL RS1731