The accord between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Pondicherry and Kerala is an ``eyewash'', the former AIADMK finance minister said at a meeting organised by the AIADMK Legal Wing to explain the `factual position on the Cauvery river problem', in the City.

The accord totally favoured Karnataka and affected the farmers in the Cauvery delta, who solely depended on the river water for irrigation. If the new scheme is implemented, the irrigation area in the delta will soon shrink below the present level of 18 lakh acres.

Further, Thanjavur, hailed as the `rice bowl' of Tamil Nadu, will become a desert and the people living there will have to migrate to other areas, he warned. He said the day had come when Tamil Nadu had to import rice from Karnataka.

``Prime Minister A B Vajpayee accepted whatKarnataka Chief Minister J H Patel dictated to him and T N Chief Minister M Karunanidhi accepted what the Prime Minister said'', he added.

Nedunchezhiyan said the original draft scheme evolved during former prime minister I K Gujral's regime, which the AIADMK is insisting on implementing, was more advantageous to TN. The proposal vested statutory powers in the authority to take over control of Karnataka's dams, if it failed to release the agreed monthly ratio of 205 TMC ft of water.

The authority comprised technical advisers, who had powers to inspect the dams in Karnataka and assess the water storage, inflow and discharge, he said, adding the scheme will be in force until a final award is passed by the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. Decisions will be taken on the basis of a majority vote. It prevented Karnataka from constructing dams and increasing the irrigation area beyond 11.2 lakh acres.

However, the newly-constituted authority only comprises a `club of politicians', and has no statutory powers,he said, adding there was no provision for inspection, and decisions can be taken only on `consensus'.Karnataka has readily accepted the accord, because it has to release only 205 TMC of water, of which surplus and rain water formed a major part. Karnataka may not even release this meagre quantity, as the authority does not have statutory powers, he said.

He accused the Centre of being ``inefficient, lethargic and biased''. If one State refused to execute the Tribunal order, the Centre has to intervene, and not hesitate to invoke Article 356 or 355 or 352 of the Constitution against a State.

Advocate B R Kuppusamy, president of Cauvery River Protection Committee, said because of Karunanidhi's `delaying tactics', the water dispute continued for about 30 years and resulted in the new scheme, which was not at all beneficial to Tamil Nadu. Karunanidhi signed the accord for political gains, he alleged.

Presiding over the meeting, Rajya Sabha Member and AIADMK Legal Wing Secretary Thalavai N Sundaram accusedKarunanidhi of having deceived the people of Tamil Nadu. He said the party would hold similar meetings to educate the people on defects in the new scheme.