Sue Karnataka for ₹1,000 crore, PMK tells Tamil Nadu government over Cauvery water
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to initiate legal proceedings against Karnataka, seeking ₹1,000 crore in compensation for the alleged failure to release Cauvery water that has affected farmers in the delta region. Speaking at a party function in Salem on Sunday, he said the state must fight for its rightful share of water.
Ramadoss alleged that Karnataka's refusal to release water has left about two lakh acres of farmland without irrigation for the ongoing Kuruvai cultivation season. He attributed the water shortfall to the "super El Nino" phenomenon, which he said disrupted the southwest monsoon and reduced the chances of rainfall until November. This, he added, is likely to affect Samba cultivation as well, deepening the crisis for farmers.
The PMK leader pointed out that Karnataka's reservoirs are nearly 90 per cent full, yet the state has not been releasing water to Tamil Nadu. He noted that the Kabini dam has been receiving surplus water following heavy rainfall in Wayanad, and the excess is being discharged to Tamil Nadu. "The Tamil Nadu government should fight to get its share of water from Karnataka," he said.
Ramadoss also demanded an all-party meeting to discuss Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu project. He claimed that Karnataka has said it would use only 5 tmc feet of water for Bengaluru's drinking needs and leave the rest for Tamil Nadu. Raising a counter-question, he asked whether Karnataka would agree if Tamil Nadu were to construct a dam and supply water to Bengaluru. The remark underscores the long-standing contention over the project, which Tamil Nadu has opposed on the grounds that it would violate the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
The Mekedatu project, proposed by Karnataka, aims to build a reservoir across the Cauvery river in Ramanagara district. Tamil Nadu has consistently argued that the project would reduce the quantum of water available to the state during the lean season. The matter is currently pending before the Supreme Court.
On the caste census issue, Ramadoss said PMK founder S. Ramadoss had previously met former chief ministers, including M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi, Edappadi K. Palaniswami and M.K. Stalin, but no action was taken. He said that after the TVK government came to power, he met Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, who accepted the demand. "Now the announcement has come and the PMK will push for its implementation," he said.
The demand for a caste census has been a long-standing political issue in Tamil Nadu, with various parties seeking a comprehensive enumeration of castes to ensure better targeting of welfare schemes. The state government has now agreed to conduct the census, though the specific modalities are yet to be announced.
The Cauvery water-sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is a decades-old issue, with the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority currently overseeing the allocation of water. States have the legal option to approach the court under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act. The PMK's appeal comes at a time when the delta region is facing acute water scarcity due to poor monsoon rainfall this year.
