DMK seeks Parliament debate on Mekedatu dam, moves adjournment notices in both Houses

Chennai, July 19 (SocialNews.XYZ) The DMK has stepped up its opposition to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project by submitting adjournment motion notices in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, demanding an immediate discussion in Parliament on an issue the party says poses a serious threat to Tamil Nadu’s water security and the livelihoods of millions of farmers.

With the Monsoon Session of Parliament set to begin on July 20, the party has urged the Centre to suspend all other scheduled business temporarily and take up the Mekedatu issue as a matter of urgent public importance.

The move comes amid renewed concerns in Tamil Nadu over Karnataka’s efforts to advance the long-pending proposal to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu.

In the Lok Sabha, DMK parliamentary party leader T.R. Baalu submitted an adjournment motion notice to the Speaker, calling for an immediate debate on the project.

In his notice, Baalu argued that Karnataka’s unilateral plan to build the dam would have far-reaching consequences for Tamil Nadu, particularly for farmers who depend on the Cauvery waters for irrigation. He stated that the proposed reservoir could adversely affect the state’s share of river water and jeopardise the livelihood of farming communities across the Cauvery delta.

Given the gravity of the issue, Baalu urged the House to set aside all other business and hold a detailed discussion on the matter without delay.

The DMK has consistently maintained that the Mekedatu project cannot proceed without the consent of the lower riparian states and has repeatedly opposed any move that could reduce the flow of Cauvery water into Tamil Nadu.

The party has also insisted that the Centre ensure strict adherence to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and the Supreme Court’s directions on water sharing.

A similar adjournment motion notice was submitted in the Rajya Sabha by DMK floor leader Tiruchi Siva.

In his notice, Siva sought an immediate discussion on the implications of the proposed dam, arguing that the project has significant legal, environmental and agricultural consequences for Tamil Nadu.

The twin notices reflect the DMK’s coordinated parliamentary strategy to bring the Mekedatu issue to the national stage during the upcoming session.

The party is expected to press for a comprehensive debate and seek the Centre’s intervention to prevent Karnataka from proceeding with the project until all interstate concerns are resolved.

Source: IANS