TTV Dhinakaran Critiques DMK Over Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam Plans

T. T. V. Dhinakaran, general secretary of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), has sharply criticized the Tamil Nadu government regarding Karnataka’s recent announcement about the proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery River. Dhinakaran claims that this development underscores the DMK government’s inefficiency in protecting the interests of Tamil Nadu.

In a statement released on Friday, Dhinakaran highlighted that the Karnataka government celebrated the Supreme Court of India’s dismissal of Tamil Nadu’s petitions against the Mekedatu project as a significant win. He also referenced Karnataka’s plans to prepare a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the dam in the near future. According to Dhinakaran, this initiative is unacceptable, as both the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority have made it clear that no projects impacting the irrigation needs of downstream states reliant on Cauvery water should proceed without following proper protocols.

Dhinakaran’s comments come shortly after a significant political alliance was reaffirmed in Tamil Nadu, where the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Indian National Congress reiterated their partnership. He expressed concern that the Karnataka government’s stance has left farmers questioning whether the DMK administration is compromising Tamil Nadu’s rights to maintain its political ties.

He urged Chief Minister M. K. Stalin to take swift legal action to protect the state’s interests and prevent the Mekedatu project from advancing. Dhinakaran’s call to action underscores the contentious nature of water resource management in the region, which has long been a source of conflict between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

The Mekedatu dam proposal has sparked debates over water rights and resource allocation, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by the DMK government in managing inter-state relations regarding vital resources. As the situation evolves, the Tamil Nadu government’s response will be closely monitored by both political observers and the farming community.