CM urges PM, Sonia to take up river linking project

Chennai, May 11 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and AICC President Sonia Gandhi to take steps to lay the foundation stone for inter-linking of rivers to solve the inter-state river disputes.

Speaking at a massive public meeting to commemorate his golden jubilee in the State Asembly, he said ''this would be the gift you should give to me on this occasion''.

Inter-linking of rivers was the only way to solve the river disputes.

''On the occasion of my golden jubilee in State Assembly and as a symbol of love and affection, I am asking this as a gift not for my sake, but for the people of the country'', he said.

Stating that Tamil Nadu was having problems with three neighbouring states -- Cauvery row with Karnataka on the west, Palar dam imbroglio with Andhra Pradesh on the north and Mullaiperiyar dam issue with Kerala on the south -- the Chief Minister appealed to Dr Singh and Ms Sonia to solve the problems of the state.

''We could not solve the problems on our own. Despite serving 50 years as a member of the State Legislature, I am not able to solve it'', he said.

''During my 50 years as member of the Assembly and also while in power at times, I had raised my voice to solve the Cauvery issue.

I held talks with 11 Chief Ministers of Karnataka and four to five Central Ministers during the last 50 years, but the issue remained unsolved'', he added.

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