'Purely Political': Anbumani Ramadoss Blasts DK Shivakumar Over Mekedatu Dam
PMK President Anbumani Ramadoss accuses Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar of using the Mekedatu dam issue as a political tool to win upcoming elections.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss has launched a scathing attack on Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, alleging that the Chief Minister is weaponizing the Mekedatu dam construction remark to fuel a political campaign. Ramadoss claims that the move is a calculated attempt to help the Congress party secure more seats in the 11 Cauvery-basin districts during the upcoming Karnataka Legislative Assembly elections.
Accusations of 'Political Drama'
According to Ramadoss, the Karnataka government is orchestrating a series of "political dramas" to mislead the public. He predicts that the state government may allocate funds for the project in the next State Budget and even attempt to lay the foundation stone for the proposed dam to create a perception of progress before the elections, which are due in approximately 15 months.
The PMK leader further suggested that the Union Government might indirectly support these "theatrics" to serve its own political calculations, adding that DK Shivakumar is fully aware of the legal constraints but is choosing to ignore them for electoral gain.
Legal Deadlock and the 'Downstream' Principle
Ramadoss strongly contested Karnataka's claim to have the right to build the dam, citing established legal and international norms. He emphasized that projects in upstream irrigation regions must not negatively impact downstream areas—a principle he asserts is recognized globally and within India.
He pointed to several key legal benchmarks to support his stance:
- Historic Agreements: The 1892 and 1924 agreements between the Mysore State and Madras Presidency regarding Cauvery water sharing.
- Tribunal Award: The final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal delivered on February 5, 2007.
- Supreme Court Verdict: The 2018 Supreme Court judgment.
"At a time when court orders clearly establish that a new dam cannot be constructed across the Cauvery without the consent of the downstream state, Karnataka's attempt to create unnecessary tension by citing a non-existent Supreme Court verdict is condemnable," Ramadoss stated.
Trust Deficit and Water Sharing
The PMK president expressed a deep lack of trust in Karnataka's commitments. He alleged that for the past 35 years, Karnataka has failed to supply water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with either the interim or final awards of the Tribunal.
Ramadoss argued that Karnataka treats Tamil Nadu as a "drainage outlet," releasing water only during periods of excess flow or floods, rather than treating the state as an equal stakeholder. Consequently, he rejected the idea of sharing water after the construction of a new dam capable of storing an additional 70 TMC of water, stating that Karnataka's past conduct makes such promises unreliable.
Call to the Union Government
Concluding his critique, Anbumani Ramadoss urged the Union Government to condemn the Karnataka government's actions. He demanded that the center ensure Karnataka is not permitted to proceed with the Mekedatu dam construction without the explicit written consent of Tamil Nadu, the downstream state of the Cauvery basin.