Farmers presenting their point of view on action to counter Karanataka’s move to build a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, at the grievance redress meeting in Tiruchi on Friday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Expressing concern over the Supreme Court’s rejection of Tamil Nadu’s plea against the preparation of detailed project report (DPR) for construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, farmers’ representatives of Tiruchi district on Friday called upon the State government to take strong measures to counter Karnataka’s plan to build the dam.
The Supreme Court on November 13, 2025 termed Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the proposed construction of a reservoir by Karnataka at Mekedatu as “premature” and declined to entertain the plea.
At the Farmers Grievances meeting here, farmers’ representatives urged the government to file a review petition before the Supreme Court and convene an all-party meeting to discuss the State’s future course of action on the issue.
Raising the issue, Ayilai Siva Suriyan, district president, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam, affiliated to the Communist Party of India, observed that the Supreme Court rejection of the plea favoured Karnataka and if the dam was built, Tamil Nadu would be rendered a desert. The State government, he said, should go on an appeal over the decision.
Claiming that the Supreme Court decision would deprive Tamil Nadu of its rights over the Cauvery waters, M.P. Chinnadurai, district president, Tamizhaga Vivasayigal Sangam, said the State government should convene an all-party meeting and initiate legal steps to get the decision reviewed. A State-wide bandh should be called to register Tamil Nadu’s protest, he said.
Deputy secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers’ Welfare Association R. Subramaniam urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the apprehensions of Tamil Nadu farmers and press Centre to reject the DPR.
Arguing that paddy cultivation would not be possible in Tamil Nadu if the Cauvery waters were to be impounded at Mekedatu by building a reservoir, P. Viswanathan, president, Eri Mattrum Attru Pasana Vivasayigal Sangam, called for strong measures to thwart Karnataka’s moves to build the dam.
Published – November 21, 2025 06:22 pm IST
