Chennai: Senior TVK ministers on Sunday defended chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s approach in Cauvery row stating that Tamil Nadu govt would never let Karnataka build Mekedatu dam.A day after DMK president M K Stalin said Vijay should reconsider his plan to visit Bengaluru to hold talks on Cauvery, PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna said TVK govt would take every possible political and legal step to prevent Mekedatu dam. Revenue minister K A Sengottaiyan said Vijay would not let even a brick to be laid for the dam.Aadhav said protecting the rights of delta farmers and the state’s water security remained the govt’s top priority.“Rights over Cauvery water is not a political issue but a livelihood issue for delta farmers. Its a fundamental right of the people of Tamil Nadu. The govt, under CM Vijay, will continue to pursue every legal, administrative and constitutional measure to safeguard the state’s rights,” Aadhav said.
CJP Jantar Mantar Protest Updates
Aadhav Arjuna said it was because of previous DMK govt’s failure to argue properly the Supreme Court case against Karnataka’s detailed project report for Mekedatu, TN faced legal setbacks. But the present govt did not wish to politicise the issue, he said. However, TVK govt was open to constructive criticism from everyone including Stalin, he said.Recalling the steps taken by Vijay, Arjuna said Vijay had met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 27 and urged him to ensure full implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict. CM also sought rejection of Karnataka’s request for the proposed reservoir project, saying it would adversely affect irrigation and drinking water needs in Tamil Nadu, he said.He said Vijay followed up with a detailed letter to the Prime Minister on June 19 reiterating Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the project and forwarded the unanimously adopted assembly resolution against Mekedatu. “TN had consistently asserted its rights before the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee,’’ he said.Speaking to reporters in Erode, Sengottaiyan said Vijay will not allow Karnataka to construct Mekedatu dam.“As long as Vijay remains as CM, Karnataka can’t move a single brick in Mekedatu. Our CM’s intention will not to allow Karnataka construct Mekedatu dam,” Sengottaiyan said. Defending Vijay’s proposed visit to Karnataka to meet Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar on Mekedatu issue, Sengottaiyan it was not new for TN leaders to visit the neighbouring state to hold talks.
