New Delhi. A rift has started among the Congress leaders regarding the Mekedatu dam project on the Kaveri river. Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu State Congress President Manickam Tagore have come face to face on this issue. Actually, PM Modi was on Karnataka tour on 13 November. Whereas DK Shivakumar said in the presence of PM Modi that the Supreme Court has given a clear decision that Mekedatu Dam has to be constructed in Karnataka, no one can stop it. He requested the PM to help Karnataka in getting the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project approved soon.
Tamil Nadu State Congress President Manickam Tagore got enraged by this statement of Shivakumar. He accused the Karnataka Chief Minister of adopting an obstinate attitude. He said Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar's statement that no one can stop the construction of the dam at Mekedatu is highly condemnable. This obstinate attitude of the Karnataka Chief Minister is a flagrant violation of the Supreme Court judgment and the final award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. Since Tamil Nadu is a 'lower-riparian' state in the Cauvery river water sharing system, Karnataka cannot unilaterally implement any project that impacts our rights. The Central Government should not grant any permission to build the Mekedatu Dam without the full consent of the 'lower-riparian' states.
Manickam Tagore said, on behalf of Tamil Nadu Congress, we will never accept this project, we are ready to fight to any extent to protect the rights of our state. To protect the interests of Tamil Nadu and the rights of our farmers, we will continue to raise our voice strongly without any compromise. On the other hand, hitting back at Manickam Tagore, Shivkumar said, whatever anyone says, or anyone criticizes, it does not matter to me. This is my kingdom, my right.