EPS questions CM’s silence over Mekedatu issue

Chennai: Strongly condemning Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar’s remarks that Tamil Nadu has “no rights” to object the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across Cauvery river, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami questioned the silence of the chief minister C Joseph Vijay on the issue.

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss also strongly condemned the Karnataka deputy CM and urged the TN govt to act vigilantly to protect the state’s water rights.

Palaniswami took to social media to register his protest, wondering whether the present `minority govt’ in TN, which relies on the Congress party, would act firmly to protect delta farmers. He demanded that the state govt make its stand clear on the inter-state water dispute.

``“Congress govt in Karnataka is acting to dilute TN’s rights over Cauvery water, but the TN govt remains a mute spectator. The situation remains the same despite a regime change,” Palaniswami said, criticising both the previous DMK administration and the present TVK dispensation.

He labeled the TVK govt a ‘Poikkal Kuthirai’ (dummy horse) that cannot function without Congress legislators. Stating that Cauvery river was a lifeline for 20 districts in the state, Palaniswami said that if Karnataka succeeds in building the dam, it will turn the fertile delta region into a desert.

The row erupted after Shivakumar claimed Tamil Nadu has no standing to object to the project as long as Karnataka ensures the mandated annual release of 177 TMC of water. Rebutting this, Anbumani highlighted the devastating lower-riparian impact the proposed dam would cause.