PMK asks MK to hold talks with CMs on interlinking rivers

Chennai, May 23 (UNI) Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Founder-Leader S Ramadoss today urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to hold talks with his counterparts from southern states to arrive at a consensus for interlinking peninsular rivers.

Pointing out the linking of rivers was the only solution for resolving inter-state water disputes, Dr Ramadoss, in a statement here, said the Chief Minister should also take up the issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi during his visit to New Delhi.

Mr Karunanidhi should hold talks with the Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala 'who were posing hurdles for linking of peninsular rivers' and convince them to give their consent for the project before the Centre takes the initiative, the PMK leader suggested.

He said Mr Karunanidhi should cite the agreement reached between Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh on linking of Ken and Patva Rivers to convince the Chief Ministers.

Dr Ramadoss, whose party is a constituent of Congress led UPA government at the Centre, said before linking the rivers, the Centre should nationalise them by amending the Constitution.

As the Centre did not await the consent of states when it implemented the national highway projects, it should be vested with powers to implement the river linking project without waiting for the consent of concerned state governments and the Constitution should be amended accordingly, Dr Ramadoss said.

The PMK leader said it was a pity that even after the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal gave its final award, uncertainty prevailed over opening of Mettur Dam on the customary date on June 12 for Kuruvai cultivation in the delta region in the state.

UNI