The Communist Party of India, Tamil Nadu unit, has favoured nationalisation of rivers to avoid issues over sharing of river water.

Addressing journalists in Thanjavur on Friday, on the sidelines of a joint protest demonstration of the CPI, the CPI(M) and the CPI ML, against the proposed construction of a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu in Karnataka, CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian pointed out that B.R. Ambedkar (architect of Indian Constitution) suggested that rivers should remain under the administration of Central Government like the railway network and the national highways. However, the then Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, said no issues would crop up as people would share it.

“But, it had become a major issue now. If the situation is to continue, the nation should think about nationalisation of rivers”, Mr. Veerapandian said.

To a question, CPI(M) State secretary P.Shanmugam said the BJP government at the Centre should ensure that the Cauvery Tribunal award was implemented without fail. It was the responsibility of the Centre to ensure that the orders of Supreme Court were complied with, he said.