Farmers urge TN to appeal in SC against Mekedatu dam project

Trichy: The Joint Movement of All Farmers’ Associations has demanded the Tamil Nadu government to immediately file a petition in the Supreme Court opposing Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project.Speaking to reporters, ‘Cauvery’ V Dhanabalan, coordinator of the movement, said: “We demand that the Tamil Nadu government file a petition in the Supreme Court against the Mekedatu dam project.

The movement will also file a suit on its own against the project.”On Saturday, leaders from 84 farmers’ associations across Tamil Nadu gathered for a meeting near Chathiram bus stand in Trichy. They welcomed the unanimous resolution passed by the assembly against the dam, a step they had been demanding.The participants decided to compile all technical evaluation reports of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) along with other relevant data available with the state government.

“We will pursue our own legal course with this data and submit it before the Supreme Court,” Dhanabalan added.The farmers resolved to form a special committee comprising representatives from various associations to collect and submit the required documents to both the state government and the Supreme Court. They also planned to strengthen their legal case by highlighting additional points on the potential adverse impacts of the project.

Leaders warned that construction of the Mekedatu dam would seriously jeopardise drinking water sources for 19 districts in Tamil Nadu and threaten the food security and livelihood of more than five crore people in the state.The associations also decided to intensify field-level protests. They emphasised that since the issue involves an inter-state river water dispute, a coordinated approach with the state government would be more effective than pursuing separate cases.