The Tamil Nadu All Farmers Organisation Coordination Committee has called for working out a consensus on water sharing issues at the conference of Chief Ministers of Southern States in Tamil Nadu.

Making this appeal in a memorandum submitted to Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan during his visit to the Central University of Tamil Nadu at Neelakudi on the outskirts of Tiruvarur on Monday, committee president P.R. Pandian welcomed the Centre’s initiative and expressed hope that it would serve as a meaningful platform to reinforce inter-State cooperation, mutual trust, and the spirit of unity among the Southern States.

Pointing out that the inter-State river water disputes, particularly those concerning the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar, have periodically strained relations among the concerned States, the committee urged the Centre to facilitate a constructive consensus among the States concerned and ensure the full and effective implementation of the orders and directions of the Supreme Court, in both the Cauvery and Mullaperiyar issues, and thereby fostering lasting harmony and cooperation.

In the larger interests of farming communities of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, we urge the Governments of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry, with the facilitation of the Government of India, to evolve a mutually acceptable consensus and accord the necessary approval for the Government of Tamil Nadu to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Rasimanal.

Stating that this initiative might be pursued in accordance with the judgments of the Supreme Court and all applicable legal, technical, environmental, and regulatory requirements, Mr. Pandian said that a consensus-driven approach to these long-standing issues would strengthen cooperative federalism, inter-State harmony, and the sustainable interests of the people and farmers.

He pleaded for allocation of sufficient funds by the Centre to Tamil Nadu under the disaster management framework to help people of delta region in Tamil Nadu and as well as in Mullaperiyar and Vaigai basins, which were facing severe drought due to the impact of `super’ El Nino conditions.

Published - August 18, 2026 04:29 pm IST