DMK to raise Mekedatu Dam issue in Parliament amid political battle with TVK
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is set to raise the Mekedatu Dam issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 21, as the party
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is set to raise the Mekedatu Dam issue during the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning July 21, as the party seeks to reclaim political ground amid the rise of Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as a challenger in Tamil Nadu. DMK Rajya Sabha MP Trichy Siva said on Saturday that the party would raise the issue in both Houses and accused the Karnataka government of failing to release Cauvery water despite directions under the existing water-sharing mechanism. Read Full Story The DMK leader said that his party would urge the Centre to constitute another tribunal to resolve the Mekedatu dispute.
Siva added that the party had already submitted adjournment motion notices in both Houses seeking a discussion on the matter. The proposed Mekedatu dam is planned on the Cauvery river near its confluence with the Arkavathi river in Ramanagara district's Kanakapura region. Karnataka has maintained that the project is aimed at meeting Bengaluru's drinking water needs and generating 400 megawatts of hydroelectric power. Tamil Nadu, however, has opposed the project, arguing that it would affect the downstream flow of Cauvery water and impact farmers dependent on the river. Last month, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing the dam and urged the Centre not to grant any clearance for the project.
The resolution described Karnataka's move on the Rs 9,000-crore project as unilateral and alleged that it violated the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and a subsequent Supreme Court judgment. DMK REITERATES OPPOSITION TO DELIMITATION On the proposed Delimitation Bill, Siva dismissed what he called misinformation about the DMK's stand and said the party was awaiting clarity from the Centre on the proposal. His remarks came amid speculation that the DMK may be reconsidering its position after the party said it had not taken a formal stand on the issue. Congress MP P Chidambaram has also alleged that the BJP is attempting to secure the DMK's support for the bill.
Siva said the DMK would oppose any delimitation exercise that reduces the parliamentary representation of southern states. He said the party would not accept the bill in its present form if it affected southern states, arguing that they were already under-represented in Parliament and that any further reduction would weaken their political voice. The Centre is expected to introduce the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill during the Monsoon Session, proposing an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 850 and paving the way for a future delimitation exercise. Ends
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