Inter-state disputes: TN Govt taking steps to safeguard ryots

Chennai, Apr 10 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government will take all steps to safeguard the interests of farmers and the people on inter-state disputes like Cauvery, Mullaiperiyar and Palar, PWD Minister Duraimurugan told the State Assembly today.

Moving the demand for grants for his department, he explained the various steps taken by the State on these issues and said all steps were being taken to safeguard the interests of farmers in the Cauvery basin on the Cauvery issue and also on the other two disputes.

The Minister said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, constituted in June 1990, had delivered its final verdict on February five last year.

Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and also the Centre have filed petitions before the Tribunal, seeking explanation or guidance under Sec 5 (3) of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, in respect to certain aspects of the final order and decision of the Tribunal.

Mr Duraimurugan said the Tribunal, in July last year, had held that the applications could be taken up for consideration after the Supreme Court disposes of the civic appeals filed by Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka against the Tribunal order.

Tamil Nadu had also filed an application, seeking to restrain Karnataka from taking up lift irrigation schemes, renovation of tanks and construction of check dams under the guise of mini-hydel projects, he said and added that the Government was closely following the developments on the issue.

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