Chief Minister should avoid going to Karnataka, says Edappadi Palaniswami
AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to cancel his visit to Karnataka to discuss the Cauvery water dispute. He argues that Karnataka's push for the Mekedatu dam threatens Tamil Nadu's water security.
Why it matters
The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing, sensitive political issue affecting the livelihoods of farmers in both states.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Friday urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to avoid meeting his Karnataka counterpart in connection with the Cauvery water row.
Speaking to reporters in Salem, Mr. Palaniswami said in 2018, the Supreme Court gave a detailed and clear verdict on the Cauvery issue. As per that verdict, the Karnataka government should share water with Tamil Nadu. But even after the Supreme Court verdict, the Karnataka did not provide water to Tamil Nadu.
“The present Karnataka Chief Minister, D.K. Shivakumar, strongly speaks for the construction of the Mekedatu Dam. If that dam (balancing reservoir) is constructed, the delta region would turn into a desert, and 20 districts in Tamil Nadu will not get drinking water,” he said.
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