Mekedatu Dam Dispute: Why is Tamil Nadu CM Vijay opposing Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam project?

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has urged PM Narendra Modi to reject Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam proposal, warning it could threaten Cauvery water supply to farmers and violate Supreme Court rulings.

Vijay Wants Centre to Block Karnataka’s Proposal (Img: Internet)

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has gotten into one of the states sensitive issues about water and politics by asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop Karnatakas plan for the Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river.

In a strong letter to the Prime Minister Vijay asked the Union government to tell the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission to say no to Karnatakas plan for the project. He said that Karnatakas plan goes against what the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court decided about sharing Cauvery water in 2018.

Tamil Nadu is worried about the water flow

The Mekedatu project, which Karnataka wants to build near the Tamil Nadu border is supposed to help with water and make power for places like Bengaluru.

However Tamil Nadu is scared that the dam could reduce the water flow during the time when farmers need it most. The state really needs the Cauvery river for irrigation in the delta areas where many farmers grow crops using Cauvery water.

Vijay said that the Cauvery river area does not have water and that the water has already been divided among the states that use it. He said that any new project that was not approved by the tribunal would go against what the Supreme Court said.

Karnatakas plan is causing a reaction

The issue became bigger when Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the state would soon send a plan to the Centre and start the project once it gets approved. He also said that there would be a ceremony to mark the start of the project.

This made many people in Tamil Nadu very upset. They are asking for strong action against the project.

Lot of pressure on Vijays government now

The Mekedatu issue is a challenge for Vijay since he became Chief Minister. Many parties, including the AIADMK, PMK and DMK are saying that Karnataka is trying to control more of the Cauvery water.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami said that the project could really hurt the people in Tamil Nadus delta areas while PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss said it could be a threat to the water people drink and use for farming, in the state.