PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Friday urged the Central government not to approve or accept the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the Karnataka government for the proposed Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river, stating that the project would severely affect Tamil Nadu’s water rights and agricultural interests.
In a statement, Anbumani said the Tamil Nadu government should strongly press the Centre to revoke the permission granted in 2018 for preparing the draft project report for the Mekedatu dam. He argued that the approval for preparing the DPR itself was issued without obtaining the consent of Tamil Nadu, which he termed unacceptable given the long-standing Cauvery water dispute between the two states.
Referring to recent remarks made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, the PMK leader strongly criticised the claim that Tamil Nadu has no right to oppose Karnataka’s proposal to construct the Mekedatu dam. He described Shivakumar’s remarks as “condemnable” and accused the Karnataka leadership of misleading the public on the legal and constitutional position regarding the issue.
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Anbumani also disputed Shivakumar’s statement that the DPR had already been submitted and that the project would be implemented immediately after receiving approval from the Centre. According to him, such assertions ignored the legal rights of Tamil Nadu and the concerns of millions of people dependent on the Cauvery river.
Highlighting the significance of the river to Tamil Nadu, Anbumani said the Cauvery serves as the primary irrigation source for 14 districts in the state and also provides drinking water to nearly five crore people across around 30 districts, including Chennai and several surrounding regions.
“If the Mekedatu dam is constructed across the Cauvery, agriculture in these 14 districts and drinking water supply for five crore people will be severely affected,” he said. “Tamil Nadu therefore has every right and responsibility to oppose the project.”
The PMK leader further pointed out that the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had clearly ruled that Karnataka cannot undertake any construction activity across the Cauvery river without obtaining the consent of the lower riparian state, Tamil Nadu. He added that the Supreme Court had repeatedly upheld this principle in various judgments related to the Cauvery dispute.
“It is a blatant falsehood for Shivakumar to claim that the Supreme Court has ruled that Tamil Nadu has no right to oppose the Mekedatu dam,” Anbumani said, while terming Karnataka’s stand on the matter as “completely unacceptable.”
Reiterating his demand, Anbumani urged the Union Ministry of Water Resources not to accept the detailed project report prepared by Karnataka for the Mekedatu project. He also called upon the Tamil Nadu government to take all necessary legal and political steps to protect the state’s rights over the Cauvery river and safeguard the interests of farmers and the general public dependent on its waters.
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