In a hard hitting speech, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday said Karnataka has treated the Supreme Court's directive with utter contempt while Tamil Nadu has scrupulously adhered to every order of the apex court.Jayalalithaa also urged the central government to immediately consititute the Cauvery Management Board as ordered by the Supreme Court.Her speech was read out by Chief Secretary P. Rama Mohana Rao at the meeting convened by the Union Ministry of Water Resources in New Delhi on the directions of the Supreme Court.Copies of her speech were distributed to the media here.Jayalalithaa said the meeting is taking place on the directions of the Supreme Court to the central government to facilitate a meeting between the Executive Heads of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.The meeting is called to end the impasse relating to non-release of Cauvery river water by Karnataka in compliance with the Supreme Court orders.As she was hospitalised, Jayalalithaa had deputed Edapaddi K. Palaniswamy, Minister for Public Works, Highways and Minor Ports for the meeting.
Stressing that Tamil Nadu has been adhering to the orders of Supreme Court scrupulously, Jayalalithaa said: "By contrast, Karnataka has treated the orders of Supreme Court with utter contempt. Successive orders of the Supreme Court have been deliberately and systematically defied."Jayalalithaa said Tamil Nadu had a shortfall of 60.983 TMC ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water for the period up to 31.8.2016, as per the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.Owing to the huge shortfall in release of water by Karnataka and to save at least a single Samba crop the state had approached the apex court for interim directions.Citing Supreme Court's recent orders on release of water by Karnataka, she said Karnataka in complete contempt for the apex court's orders failed to release the water.She said Karnataka did not release the water but on the other hand permitted unruly elements to create law and order issues."Many large and small properties and establishments owned by Tamils (in Karnataka) were systematically targeted, ransacked and burnt. A large number of vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration were burnt and vandalised," she said.Referring to the continued defiant stance of Karnataka on release of water to Tamil Nadu Jayalalithaa wondered whether the meeting would serve its intended purpose.
She said a professionally managed, neutral, technical body in the form of the Cauvery Management Board mandated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal can address the concerns of the riparian states."I urge the government of India to constitute the body immediately without waiting for the four weeks time stipulated by the Honourable Supreme Court," she said.Stressing the fact that Tamil Nadu is in dire need of water Jayalalithaa urged the central government to ensure Karnataka to release water as per Supreme Court orders dated 5.9.2016, 12.9.2016, 20.9.2016 and 27.9.2016."Further, Karnataka should release the stipulated quantity of water as per the Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal including the backlog of 76.042 TMC ft. as on 26.9.2016," she said.