In a show of defiance and desperation, delta farmers from Tamil Nadu rallied to the Public Works Department (PWD) Superintending Engineer office in Thanjavur on Thursday, staging a vehement protest against what they perceive as the state government’s tacit support for the construction of the Mekedatu dam in Karnataka.Converging at the Old Collectorate, the farmers, in a procession marked by raised slogans, demanded immediate action from the Tamil Nadu government to halt the construction of the Mekedatu dam, which they fear would inevitably transform the fertile lands of the Cauvery Delta into arid desolation.
Addressing reporters amidst the fervent demonstration, PR Pandian, a prominent figure leading the protest, voiced the farmers’ growing frustration and suspicion towards the Tamil Nadu government’s perceived inaction on the issue. Pandian lamented the conspicuous silence of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin and the ruling DMK party regarding the Mekedatu dam project, accusing them of indirectly aiding Karnataka’s ambitions.
“The indifference shown by both the Karnataka Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, openly advocating for the Mekedatu Dam project during their election campaigns, coupled with the eerie silence from our own state’s leadership, raises serious concerns,” Pandian asserted.
He emphasized the dire consequences awaiting Tamil Nadu if the Mekedatu dam were to materialize, painting a grim picture of a region parched of its lifeblood – water. Pandian underscored the palpable threat to both agricultural sustenance and basic human needs posed by the dam’s construction, warning that Tamil Nadu could soon face the specter of desertification.
Furthermore, Pandian accused Karnataka of reneging on its obligation to release Tamil Nadu’s due share of Cauvery river water, exacerbating the already precarious situation. He lamented the lack of proactive measures from the Tamil Nadu government to compel Karnataka to honor its commitments, urging authorities to awaken from their “deep sleep” and prioritize the welfare of farmers and the general populace.