TN parties oppose Centre's move to seek more time for CMB

Chennai, April 27 (IANS) Political parties in Tamil Nadu has condemned the Central government's move to seek two more weeks time to frame the scheme for sharing of Cauvery river water.

State Fisheries Minister D.Jayakumar told reporters that Central government's action is not acceptable.

DMK leader M.K.Stalin said the Supreme Court had given time till May 3 for the Central government to draft the scheme for sharing of Cauvery water amongst the southern states, and the extended time was given after the apex court had ordered to frame the scheme withing six weeks of its February 16 order.

"The Central government has now approached the apex court seeking two weeks time which is a proof that it is not interested in setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB)," he said.

The BJP is not respecting the award of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) and the Supreme Court order and is functioning to reap benefits out of the forthcoming assembly elections in Karnataka, Stalin said.

The DMK leader also castigated the AIADMK led Tamil Nadu government for not bringing pressure on the Central government to set up the CMB.

Former Union Health Minister and PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said the Central government wants to harvest political benefits in the poll bound Karnataka by delaying the drafting of the water sharing scheme.

He said the Central government's action of sacrificing the interests of one state to reap political benefits in another state is against the federal structure of the country.