Focus on halting Mekedatu project instead of horse-trading: Anbumani

Trichy: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader Anbumani Ramadoss has urged Tamil Nadu to prioritise stopping Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam project instead of getting distracted by political horse-trading.Anbumani visited the Grand Anicut (Kallanai) in Thanjavur district on Saturday as part of a campaign to raise awareness against the Mekedatu project.

Anbumani inspected the dry riverbed of the Cauvery, which was affected after the Mettur dam was not opened in June.Speaking to reporters later, he warned that the situation in the Cauvery delta region would worsen if Karnataka is allowed to construct the dam.“Karnataka government is making intense efforts to build Mekedatu dam. Meanwhile, people in Tamil Nadu are more focused on horse-trading. The parties are focused on buying MLAs and making by-elections happen,” Anbumani said.Anbumani demanded the chief minister to convene an all-party meeting immediately on the Mekedatu issue. “The chief minister must take all leaders, MPs and MLAs to New Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and Union minister for water resources to exert pressure on preventing Mekedatu dam,” he said.He also alleged that Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar was not being truthful about the purpose of the project. He questioned, “Bengaluru’s drinking water requirement is only about 4.75 tmcft. So, why are they planning to build a new dam with 70 tmcft capacity? Who are they trying to deceive?”Anbumani also expressed concern over the impact on agriculture, noting that kuruvai cultivation could not begin due to lack of Cauvery water and that samba cultivation is now doubtful because of the El Niño effect.The PMK leader voiced apprehension that the Union government may favour Karnataka ahead of its next assembly election in that state.