TN political parties welcome Cauvery verdict

Chennai, Feb 5 (UNI) Leaders of various political parties today hailed the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and said it was a welcome and happy verdict.

Welcoming the final award wholeheartedly, TNCC President M Krishnasamy said it was a ''just verdict'' that would would wipe out the miseries of the farmers who had suffered a lot due to non-implementation of the interim award by Karnataka.

In 1991, the tribunal in its interim award had directed Karnataka to release 205 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu.

''It is a just verdict that protected the rights of the farmers of Tamil Nadu,'' he added.

''Justice has been rendered to Tamil Nadu, which had sought a verdict based on the agreements signed between the two states in 1892 and 1924,'' he said and added the question mark over the future of the farmers in the Cauvery basin areas had now disappeared.

CPI State Secretary D Pandian described it as neutral verdict and said all the four riparian states, involved in the dispute, should accept it wholeheartedly and implement it.

''It should not be seen as a victory or defeat and the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka should celebrate the verdict for bringing an end to a long-pending dispute,'' he added.

He said the State Executive of the CPI also urged the Centre to constitute a Regulatory Authority to oversee the implementation of the final award of the Tribunal.

Senior BJP Leader Su Thirunavukkarasar welcomed it and expressed happiness over the verdict.

''Though it is a delayed verdict, it is welcome'', he said and wanted the Union Government to set up a regulatory authority for its proper implementation.

Dravidar Kazhagam Leader K Veeramani said though he was not fully satisfied, he welcomed the final award. ''More than the verdict, the implementation is more important.

''The Centre should immediately publish it in the gazette without any delay,'' he added.

The Indian National League also welcomed the final award.

UNI