Centre should constitute CMB to realise people's aspirations: Palaniswami

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday urged the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board in view of the aspirations of the people in the state and the farmers of the Cauvery delta region.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami said he expected the Centre to come out with a "good" decision on setting up the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee (CWRC).

"The Centre should realise the aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu and the delta farmers," he told reporters here.

In case the Centre does not constitute the CMB and CWRC, the state government's next course of action would be decided only after the lapse of six weeks time from the February 16 Supreme Court verdict on the vexed inter-state dispute, the chief minister said.

Palaniswami had yesterday also expressed hope that the Centre would set up the CMB by March 29, a demand persistently made by the state government in the backdrop of the Supreme Court judgement.

The Apex Court on February 16 pronounced its verdict on the dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. After it was announced, the lower riparian state has been urging the Centre to set up CMB and CWRC to ensure it receives its due share of water.

Tamil Nadu's stand is that the Centre must constitute the panels within six weeks from the day the apex court gave its verdict, which would be March 29.