Cabinet discusses budget, Jaya birth anniversary, EPS govt’s 1-yr fete

The two hour meeting discussed key issues, including the outcome of Cauvery verdict in Supreme Court on Friday, means and ways to get state’s due from Karnataka, formation of Cauvery Management Board etc. Even as the Ministers were tight-lipped about the day’s agenda for the cabinet meeting, sources indicated that instructions were passed on to the Cabinet Ministers to stay put in the headquarters. 

“The decision would help carry out administration better, if the Ministers are available in the Secretariat until Thursday every week. They have decided to keep their colleagues in the loop in case they need to go out of the headquarters during week days,” the source said. It was also decided to hold the anniversary of Palaniswami regime, which turns a year on Friday, along with the birth anniversary celebrations of former chief minister Jayalalithaa, which falls on February 24. 

The state was earlier planning to hold the anniversary celebration of the regime on February 16, itself and it was subsequently postponed. Ministers were told get ready for the pre-budget meetings which are soon to be chaired by the Chief Minister. The dates to present the budget for the ensuing financial year is learnt to have been cleared and the announcement on the same is also expected soon. 

Regarding the distress situation in the Cauvery Delta region, the CM had already written to his Karnataka counterpart demanding release of the state’s remaining share of 81 tmcft of water out of the stipulated 192 tmcft every year besides seeking Siddaramaiah’s time to meet the high-powered delegation of Ministers from here. The meeting also resolved to insist the Centre on formation of Cauvery Management Board and to pursue all the available avenues to get this done.