Date:09/09/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/09/09/stories/2002090904300101.htm

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T.N. to move SC

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI SEPT. 8. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today said that the State would approach the Supreme Court at the earliest to plead for a fair deal. Tamil Nadu would otherwise be put to untold hardship and misery, she said in a statement.

"Tamil Nadu is shocked and aghast at this arbitrary treatment meted out to the State. Once again we have no other way but to approach the Supreme Court," she added.

In spite of the reasonable request made by the State Finance Minster, C. Ponnaiyan, who represented her at the meeting, it was "shocking" that the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, utilising the provisions of the Business Rules of the Cauvery River Authority, ruled that Tamil Nadu would get 9,000 cusecs as against the 8,000 cusecs offered by Karnataka.

Despite Mr. Ponnaiyan's protest, the Prime Minister read out his statement which was already prepared, making it clear that there was "no application of mind" on the grounds put forth by Tamil Nadu.

Earlier in a letter to the Prime Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa said she could not make it to the Cauvery River Authority meeting in Delhi because of her "indisposition" and the "short notice" given by the Centre for the meeting.