Chennai, Nov 2:
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran has questioned Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s silence over Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project, accusing the State government of failing to respond to developments that could affect Tamil Nadu’s interests and the livelihood of Cauvery delta farmers.
In a social media post on Sunday, Nagendran alleged that Karnataka was accelerating land acquisition for the proposed dam despite repeated objections from Tamil Nadu. He referred to statements by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar about the land acquisition process and asked why the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister had not reacted to the development.
Nagendran said Karnataka’s Congress government was acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers and accused the TVK government of remaining passive. He also questioned why Vijay was reluctant to confront the Congress leadership in Karnataka, particularly when the party was part of the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu.
Referring to the Cauvery Management Authority, the BJP leader alleged that Karnataka had failed to release the required Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite directions from the authority. He claimed that the State’s water interests were being undermined and demanded that the Chief Minister make his position clear on the Mekedatu project.
The Mekedatu proposal has remained a contentious issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu opposing the construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery, citing its potential impact on the State’s water share. Nagendran said the issue required a clear response from the Tamil Nadu government and accused the ruling dispensation of placing political considerations above the interests of farmers.