Tamil Nadu Farmers to Petition Centre Against Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam Project
A delegation of farmers' representatives from Tamil Nadu is set to travel to New Delhi to submit a representation to the Union Ministry of Water Resources, opposing the construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu in Karnataka.
This decision was reached during a meeting of the Tamil Nadu Vivasaya Sangakalin Koottuiyyakkam, an umbrella organisation of various farmers' associations, held in Chennai on Saturday. The meeting focused on the possibility of filing a case in the Supreme Court on behalf of delta farmers to challenge Karnataka's move to build the dam.
Veteran farmer leaders Mahadhanapuram V. Rajaram and P. Ayyakannu were present at the meeting, along with other representatives. According to federation president Cauvery Dhanapalan, detailed discussions were held with a team of lawyers, resulting in the formation of a committee to gather relevant data on the issue.
“It was felt that it would be better for farmers’ organisations to join hands with the State government in pursuing the legal option since it is an inter-State issue,” Mr. Dhanapalan said.
The Mekedatu project, proposed by the Karnataka government, aims to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and generate hydroelectric power. However, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the project, arguing that it violates the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the subsequent Supreme Court judgment. Tamil Nadu maintains that the project would affect the water availability for farmers in the Cauvery delta region.
The dispute over the Cauvery river waters has a long history between the two states. The tribunal and the Supreme Court have allocated specific shares of water to each state, but disagreements persist over the execution of projects and the management of water releases. The Mekedatu project has been a contentious issue, with Tamil Nadu seeking legal and political avenues to stop its construction.
The farmers' delegation plans to urge the Union Ministry to intervene and prevent any construction that could further strain water resources. The meeting also resolved to coordinate with the Tamil Nadu government to ensure a unified legal strategy. The committee formed will collect technical and hydrological data to strengthen the case against the project.
As the matter involves complex inter-state water rights, it may eventually require further adjudication by the Supreme Court. The farmers' representatives emphasised the need to protect the interests of delta farmers who depend on the Cauvery for irrigation.
