P.R. Pandian, the General Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers Association, has urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to convene a Cabinet meeting to declare the recent decision of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the Mekedatu reservoir as illegal. The CWMA had decided to return Karnataka’s proposal to build a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river to the Central Water Commission, aligning with the majority opinion of its members.
Pandian also called for an all-party meeting to register Tamil Nadu’s protest against the CWMA’s decision. He expressed regret over the Tamil Nadu government’s participation in the CWMA discussion, suggesting it compromised the hard-earned rights of Tamil Nadu farmers in the Cauvery issue. Pandian urged Chief Minister Stalin to clarify the state government’s stance on this critical matter.
On a similar note, V. Rajaram, the President of the Cauvery Irrigation Farmers Association, expressed concern over the CWMA decision and criticized the State government’s handling of the issue. He questioned the government’s ability to protect farmers’ rights if the Central Water Commission also favored the construction of the reservoir. Rajaram called for unity among farmers and urged voters to support a party that promises to safeguard the state’s interests in the upcoming elections.
