AIADMK General Secretary asserts that upstream states cannot unilaterally hinder water flow to downstream regions.
The General Secretary of the AIADMK, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has formally expressed his opposition to recent statements made by a Union Minister regarding the Mekedatu dam project. The dispute centers on a written response provided in Parliament by the Union Minister of State for Water Resources, which suggested that a 2018 Supreme Court verdict did not explicitly require Karnataka to seek approval from Tamil Nadu or other basin states before beginning construction. Palaniswami argued that this interpretation disregards the fundamental principles of interstate river management established by the judiciary.
According to the opposition leader, the legal framework governing the Cauvery River clearly prevents unilateral actions by upstream states. He referenced the Supreme Court’s February 16, 2018, ruling, which characterized interstate rivers as national assets over which no single state can claim exclusive ownership. Palaniswami pointed to specific sections of the judgment that mandate upstream states to avoid any measures that could disrupt the scheduled supply of water to downstream recipients. He stated that the Minister’s recent comments have created significant concern among the public in regions dependent on the river.
The history of this dispute involves years of legal proceedings and administrative orders aimed at regulating water distribution. Following the 2018 verdict, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee were established through a gazette notification on June 1, 2018. These bodies were intended to ensure that Tamil Nadu receives its designated share of water, which is a critical resource for drinking and agriculture across 20 districts. Palaniswami noted that during his previous tenure as Chief Minister, he had repeatedly communicated opposition to the Mekedatu project to the Prime Minister and Union Ministers through official correspondence in 2017 and 2018.
In his official statement, Palaniswami emphasized that the 2018 ruling was clear in its directive: “any state located upstream should not undertake any action that would affect the planned distribution of water to the states located downstream”. He further asserted that “Inter-state rivers are national assets. No single state can claim exclusive rights”. He criticized the current interpretation as being insensitive to the established rights of lower riparian states.
The ongoing disagreement over the dam has immediate implications for the agricultural sector in the Delta region. Reports indicate that delays in water release from Karnataka have already impacted Kuruvai crop cultivation and led to drinking water shortages in several Tamil Nadu districts. The AIADMK leader joined other political voices in the state, including representatives from the CPI(M) and MDMK, who have also called for the Union Minister’s statement to be reconsidered.
This development underscores the continued tension between state and central authorities over the management of shared water resources. The significance of the Mekedatu issue lies in its potential to alter the existing water-sharing mechanisms that have been painstakingly negotiated over decades. As of now, the AIADMK has urged the central government to be more mindful of the sentiments and legal rights of the people of Tamil Nadu when addressing such sensitive interstate matters.
