Search the Internet          Tips

Cauvery issue: Jayalalithaa may go on a fast

Sheela Bhatt in New Delhi

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa may go on a fast if Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee doesn't solve the Cauvery issue, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam sources said on Monday.

A 115 member all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu is expected to meet the prime minister on Monday evening.

However, Jayalalithaa has avoided the trip to Delhi, in wake of the sensitive political situation arising out of the Supreme Court hearings on the case questioning the legality of her assuming the chief minister's office, and her legal battles in the Madras high court on the Tansi case.

According to sources in her party, "She is not going to take the Cauvery issue lightly."

The all-party delegation of Tamil Nadu wants the prime minister to intervene and put pressure on Karnataka to release water as per the Cauvery Tribunal's award, agreed upon by both the states.

Last Friday, chief secretary of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had met in Delhi, in the presence of water resources secretary B N Nagarwala, to sort out the water issue.

But the talks had failed.

According to sources in the water ministry, the fresh problem has arisen because both the states were facing a drought situation.

Tamil Nadu's situation has reached a crisis level because they are left with only 9 days of water.

Moreover, Tamil Nadu has also not received the southeast monsoon.

Karnataka is also facing an equally bad situation.

With rains failing the state, drought conditions are prevailing in several interior parts of the state.

"Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are both facing water problems. The Centre is exploring all possibilities to address the problem. Karnataka normally provides more water than stipulated by tribunal, but this time they too are facing the water scarcity." Nagarwala told rediff.com.

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report