If Centre fails to set up CMB, I will take legal steps: Jaya

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today said she would not hesitate to seek legal recourse for setting up the regulatory bodies persuant to the notification of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award if the Centre failed to do so.

Speaking at a function here to felicitate her for getting the final award notified in the gazette, she said she had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently demanding that the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committe be constituted.

"The Supreme Court has said it is the Centre's duty to constitute CMB. Therefore, I believe the Centre will do it. Else, I will take legal steps for the constitution of these with your help," she said

The Chief Minister said she will ensure Tamil Nadu's rights on river Cauvery.
Jayalalithaa said that despite being in power in 2007, when the tribunal gave its final award, the then DMK government had failed to get it notified and charged the DMK Chief and her arch rival M Karunanidhi with taking steps that benfitted Karnataka, the upper riparian state.

She recalled in detail her government's court battles for ensuring Cauvery water to the state and said that due to her efforts, the state approached the apex court which had directed the Centre to notify the final award last month.
Criticising Karunanidhi, she alleged he had done little in his various terms as Chief Minister on the issue.