Chennai: PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss dubbed the Tamil Nadu govt’s decision to approach the Supreme Court over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute a “delayed but correct step”. In a statement on Saturday, he cautioned the state against engaging in bilateral negotiations with Karnataka on the river dispute or the proposed Mekedatu dam project.Anbumani noted that the decision came late, only after Karnataka ruled out bilateral talks. “Legal action remains the only viable mechanism to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s water rights,” he said. The statement follows cancellation of chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s scheduled visit to Bengaluru to meet his Karnataka counterpart, D K Shivakumar.The meeting was called off after Karnataka declared that circumstances were not conducive for talks.“The Tamil Nadu govt initially pursued an incorrect approach. It is satisfying to see that it has now returned to the right path. Going forward, the govt should adopt a clear policy of not engaging in any negotiations with Karnataka on the issues of Cauvery or Mekedatu. Since chief minister Vijay is new to politics, he may have believed that trying a new approach could help secure water for Tamil Nadu. However, he must understand that regardless of which party governs Karnataka, its chief ministers have never voluntarily agreed to release water to Tamil Nadu,” Anbumani said.
