A sharp political friction has emerged within the Congress party over the proposed construction of the Mekedatu dam in Karnataka, bringing inter-state water disputes right to the forefront. Manickam Tagore, a Congress Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu, launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over his recent remarks backing the dam project. Tagore slammed the initiative as being completely detrimental to the interests and livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu, while demanding that the central government withhold any clearance for the project and warning that his party would fight tooth and nail to halt it.
Accusations of Violating Federal Principles
Taking to X, Manickam Tagore expressed deep displeasure over the Karnataka Chief Minister stating in Mysuru, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, that no one could stop the construction of the Mekedatu dam and that the Centre should grant final approvals. Tagore criticized this persistent stance as an open violation of the Supreme Court judgment and the final verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. He argued that such statements run directly counter to the principles of federalism and threaten to ruin the livelihoods of farmers residing in Tamil Nadu's delta districts, making the position entirely unacceptable.
The Tamil Nadu MP emphasized that since his state is a lower riparian state within the Cauvery river water sharing arrangement, Karnataka cannot unilaterally implement any project that infringes upon their rightful share. He stated that it is the duty of the central government to prevent Karnataka from laying even a single brick for the dam without the consent of downstream regions, and reiterated that the state unit of the party will go to any length to protect local rights.
DK Shivakumar Push for Legal Approvals
The controversy stems from recent events where Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had urged the Centre, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to expedite the necessary legal clearance processes for the Mekedatu dam project. The Chief Minister had maintained that the Supreme Court had already delivered its verdict and the legal position was clear, asserting that the dam must be built in Karnataka and no one could stop it while seeking legal assistance from the central leadership.
Background and Objectives of the Mekedatu Dispute
The proposed Mekedatu dam is planned across the Cauvery river near Kanakapura, the home town of DK Shivakumar. The stated objective of the project is to meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru while also serving as a buffer to ensure adequate water supplies for Tamil Nadu during drought periods. Despite these stated goals, Tamil Nadu has fiercely opposed the venture out of concern that it would severely harm its agricultural community. Notably, the friction comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Congress Chief Minister shared a friendly metro ride together in Karnataka, highlighting a contrast between personal camaraderie and sharp political disagreements over regional resources.
