Cauvery water dispute: Tamil Nadu protesters demand Karnataka halt Mekadatu dam plans
The Communist Party of India (CPI) and its affiliated farmers' association, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, led a protest rally in Hosur on Thursday against Karnataka's proposed Mekadatu dam project, calling on the state government to respect court orders on inter-state water sharing.
CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian, who addressed the rally, argued that the project threatens the long-standing fraternity between the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. 'Hosur is a living example of harmony among people from all states. The Karnataka government's position on this project endangers that spirit,' he said.
The Mekadatu project, planned across the Cauvery river in Karnataka's Ramanagara district, aims to generate hydroelectric power and provide drinking water. However, Tamil Nadu has opposed it, claiming it would violate the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and subsequent Supreme Court orders that mandate equitable sharing of river water.
Veerapandian urged the Karnataka government to recognise Tamil Nadu's rights and abide by judicial rulings. 'All we ask is to respect the court's decisions and help alleviate drought in the Cauvery delta region,' he said.
The rally, which saw a few hundred participants, was briefly stopped by police on Thally road before being allowed to proceed under heavy police presence.
The Cauvery water dispute has been a long-running issue between the two states, with several rounds of litigation and protests over decades. The Supreme Court in 2018 upheld the tribunal's allocation, directing Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka has maintained that the Mekadatu project does not violate any orders as it uses only the state's share of water.
