As Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced his government’s commitment to proceed with the Mekedatu dam project over the Cauvery River during the presentation of the 2024-25 state budget, Tamil Nadu political parties have vehemently condemned the decision.Siddaramaiah’s assertion that the construction of the dam would commence soon, coupled with plans for 2 sub-committees to oversee the project, has sparked outrage among Tamil Nadu leaders. The proposed dam, with a capacity to hold 67.14 tmc of water and a cost estimated at 9000 crore rupees, has drawn sharp criticism for its potential impact on Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery basin districts.
MDMK leader and Member of Parliament Vaiko denounced the move, citing the final verdict of the Cauvery Tribunal and judgments by the Supreme Court. He warned that the construction of the Mekedatu Dam could lead to desertification in Tamil Nadu’s agricultural heartlands, exacerbating the already dire situation of cultivated land loss.
Echoing Vaiko’s sentiments, PMK leader DR Ramadoss condemned Karnataka’s defiance of the Supreme Court ban on such projects. He called for immediate action to revoke the central government’s permission granted in 2018 for the preparation of the project report, urging the Tamil Nadu government to pass a resolution in the assembly and seek intervention from the central government.
AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to pursue legal avenues to halt Karnataka’s efforts in advancing the Mekedatu project. He emphasized the potential adverse consequences on Tamil Nadu’s delta districts and called for swift action to nullify any resolutions passed in favour of the dam.