Govt files review petition before CWDT

Chennai, Apr 27 (UNI) After elaborate debate and consultations, the Tamil Nadu government today filed a review petition before the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), seeking explanations and guidance on its final award delivered on February five.

An official release here said the review petition, which was finalised after consultations with leaders of all political parties, farmers' associations and legal experts, was filed before the Tribunal under Section 5(3) of the Inter-state River Water Disputes Act, 1956.

After the Tribunal's final award, the DMK government convened an all-party meeting here on February 19, discussed the pros and cons of the order and decided to file a review petition before the Tribunal to seek explanations.

The government prepared a draft petition after consulting legal experts and engineering experts and the same was discussed threadbare at an all-party meeting again convened on March 15.

Though all political parties in the state supported the government's decision to approach the Tribunal, the opposition AIADMK insisted that the government move the Supreme Court instead of the Tribunal.

The government, however, clarified that it was not averse to approach the Supreme Court. If necessary, the government would definitely move the Supreme Court, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had said.

UNI