Palaniswami took to the social media platform X to address Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Condemned Shivakumar's repeated claim that Karnataka has the right to build the dam and no permission is required for it. He said that such statements can create division between the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Palaniswami said previous AIADMK governments had fought legal battles to protect Tamil Nadu's rights over Cauvery waters. He said these efforts resulted in the Supreme Court decision and the creation of a system to monitor water sharing and ensure that Tamil Nadu gets water every month.
Referring to the court's observation that interstate rivers are national assets over which no state can claim rights, he said Karnataka cannot carry out construction affecting downstream states without the approval of the Supreme Court.
He alleged that the Congress government in Karnataka neither respected the Supreme Court decision nor followed the instructions related to release of water in the last six months. Palaniswami also rejected CM Shivakumar's argument that Mekedatu Dam is necessary to supply Tamil Nadu its fixed share under the court order.
He claimed that the water reaching the Mettur reservoir is mostly the surplus flow that is released when the reservoir in Karnataka is filled. Additionally, there is rain water from catchment areas outside those reservoirs. He alleged that Karnataka is not releasing water from its dam as per the monthly schedule.
Warning against the proposed dam project, Palaniswami said that another dam at Mekedatu would hamper the flow needed by Tamil Nadu. He said Cauvery sustains agriculture in the delta of Tamil Nadu and supplies drinking water to the people of 20 districts.
He also accused the Tamil Nadu government of failing to secure the sharing of Tamil Nadu's share of water through legal means since assuming power and said this shortfall has affected the cultivation of Kuruvai and Samba.
He warned that the construction of the dam could turn the delta districts into desert and the supply of drinking water could be in danger. Palaniswami urged CM Vijay to raise these concerns with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress president and cited Congress's alliance with the ruling government in Tamil Nadu.
He sought Karnataka's intervention to put a stop to the statements and ensure compliance with the instructions to release Cauvery water.