MDMK Leader Vaiko Criticizes Central Government Over Mekedatu Dam Issue

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], August 5: Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko has accused the central government of being “partial to Karnataka” regarding the Mekedatu dam issue. “If the Karnataka government makes any attempt to build the Mekedatu Dam, then India’s unity will become a question mark? The central government is partial to supporting Karnataka,” MDMK leader Vaiko said. He further expressed confidence that all the political parties in Tamil Nadu oppose Mekedatu dam construction. “We won’t allow it,” he added.

The Mekedatu project is a multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district of Karnataka. This project is designed to store about 66 TMC of water and aims to act as a balancing reservoir for water distribution to Tamil Nadu. This is proposed to be built on the Cauvery basin in Karnataka, and is expected to be a solution to the Cauvery water sharing row between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery water dispute, a perennial flashpoint between both the state, remains a pressing concern despite intermittent efforts at resolution.

On July 29, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that Tamil Nadu would benefit more from the Mekedatu project. “This project will allow us to release 177 TMC of water even in times of distress. We can also generate 400 MW of power. We believe the Courts will allow us to build this dam and that Tamil Nadu will allow us to go ahead with this,” Shivakumar said while speaking to reporters in Bengaluru.