New Delhi [India], August 4 (ANI): Makkal Needhi Maiyam (MNM) President and MP Kamal Haasan announced that he raised a query in Parliament regarding the status of the Mekedatu project and the protection of water rights for Tamil Nadu, highlighting that already established legal safeguards are essential for deciding on the future course of action for the Cauvery basin.
Kamal Haasan, in a post on X, highlighted governing shared water resources and focused attention on how regional water allocations are managed under existing judicial frameworks.
He wrote, “My unstarred Question in Parliament to the Ministry of Jal Shakti sought clarity on the status of the Mekedatu project and the safeguards protecting Tamil Nadu’s water rights. Cauvery is shared by States and governed by law. Respecting both is essential to a lasting solution.”
“I welcome the Union Government’s confirmation that any future appraisal of the Mekedatu DPR will be undertaken only in accordance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the Hon’ble Supreme Court’s judgment,” he added.
Emphasising the importance of adherence to judicial rulings, Kamal Haasan added, “Those legal safeguards must remain the foundation of every decision affecting the Cauvery basin.”
On Monday, Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin said that the Cauvery River water was supposed to reach the state by June 12 but still hasn’t, emphasising that if the farmers’ demands are not fulfilled, the protests will intensify.
In an X post, Stalin said, “Protests will intensify if the demands of the farming community are not met! On the day of ‘Aadi Perukku’, when the Cauvery river should be surging with water, Delta farmers are protesting as their own anguish surges instead!”
Stalin expressed gratitude to allied party leaders, including Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) MLA Jawahirullah, Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) State President Thamimun Ansari, and State Social Democratic Party of India State President Nellai Mubarak, along with farmer association representatives and party cadres, for participating in the rally to voice the sentiment of the farming community.
“The Cauvery water that should have arrived by June 12 has still not come, even after August dawned,” he noted.
Targeting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, Stalin questioned the silence maintained regarding Karnataka’s refusal to release water, asking whether farmers’ lives are being held hostage for the sake of neighbouring film industries.
“Tamil Nadu is witnessing a Chief Minister who has not uttered a single word of condemnation against the Karnataka government for refusing to release water to the state. Would you really gamble with the livelihoods of our farmers just to ensure a movie’s screening in the neighbouring state?” he questioned.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu LoP Udhayanidhi Stalin led a massive DMK protest in Thanjavur, demanding firm action to uphold Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water, a complete waiver of agricultural crop loans, and a special relief package for Delta farmers.
“When our Tamil Nadu farmers travelled to Delhi to protest over the Mekedatu issue, they were arrested in Maharashtra. Our party leader has issued a statement condemning this. But the Chief Minister has not uttered a word because Maharashtra is ruled by the BJP. The Chief Minister simply does not have the courage to speak against them,” he stated.
Taking a sharp critic at CM Vijay, he added, “Even after completing three months in office, the Chief Minister has not even uttered the word ‘BJP’ once. That shows just how ‘brave’ he is. Instead of protecting the welfare and rights of farmers, the Chief Minister is more concerned about protecting his own government.”
The Cauvery water dispute is a long-running inter-state river water-sharing conflict with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu being the principal parties. The dispute revolves around how the waters of the Cauvery River should be shared, particularly during years of low rainfall.
The issue resurfaced amid developments concerning the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, proposed by Karnataka. It has been a major point of friction between the two states, with Tamil Nadu traditionally opposing it on the grounds that it would affect the flow of water downstream. (ANI)
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