Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai
Chennai, May 22: Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday urged the Tamil Nadu government to clearly announce its stand on the Mekedatu issue, the long-standing inter-state dispute involving neighbouring Karnataka over the sharing of Cauvery River water.
Karnataka has proposed constructing a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu to meet drinking water and power generation requirements. Tamil Nadu has been opposing the project, arguing that it would adversely affect the state's water interests if implemented.
In a statement issued in Chennai, Palaniswami alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka was acting in a manner that undermined Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery river, while the Tamil Nadu government remained passive on the issue.
“The Karnataka Congress government is acting in a way that undermines Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery, and the government in Tamil Nadu is standing by idly. This remains an unchanging scene regardless of changes in administration,” he said.
The former Chief Minister also referred to remarks made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who reportedly stated that Tamil Nadu had no right to oppose the Mekedatu dam project.
“His present statement has triggered massive outrage among farmers and the general public in Tamil Nadu,” Palaniswami said.
Calling the Cauvery river the lifeline of Tamil Nadu, Palaniswami said the river served not only farmers in the Cauvery Delta districts but also supplied drinking water to people across 20 districts in the state.
“If a dam is built across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, the Delta districts will turn into a desert,” he claimed.
Stating that the AIADMK would never allow Tamil Nadu’s rights over the Cauvery to be compromised, he questioned how the Karnataka government could even speak about proceeding up to the ground-breaking stage of the Mekedatu project.
“I strongly urge the Tamil Nadu government to immediately initiate steps against the Congress government in Karnataka in this matter and clearly announce the state’s stand,” he demanded.