“Deeply painful and shocking blow”: Palaniswami slams DMK government over Cauvery issue

AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Thursday criticised the Tamil Nadu government, calling the latest developments in the Cauvery water dispute a “deeply painful and shocking blow” to the state. His remarks follow growing concerns over Karnataka’s push for the Mekedatu reservoir project and allegations that Tamil Nadu failed to present a strong case in the Supreme Court.

EPS accused the DMK-led government of “sleeping on its responsibilities,” claiming that the state’s legal arguments were weak and paved the way for Karnataka to advance plans for the contested Mekedatu project. He warned that any diversion or obstruction of Cauvery waters would severely damage Tamil Nadu’s agriculture, particularly in the delta region where lakhs of farmers depend on the river for irrigation and drinking water.

According to Palaniswami, the Cauvery is the “lifeline” of the state, and any threat to its flow could destabilize food production and harm over 20 districts. He further alleged that the ruling DMK leadership may have compromised Tamil Nadu’s interests due to political or business ties in, Karnataka an allegation the government has strongly rejected.

Responding to the criticism, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan defended the government, asserting that Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed Karnataka’s plans. He clarified that the Supreme Court has not granted final approval for the Mekedatu project and that Tamil Nadu will continue to voice its objections before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC). The minister insisted that the state “will never give up” the rights of its farmers.

The Cauvery water-sharing issue, one of India’s oldest inter-state river disputes, remains a volatile political and emotional subject in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Mekedatu project, proposed as a drinking water and power-generation reservoir, has been strongly opposed by Tamil Nadu, which fears the dam would allow Karnataka to control and reduce downstream water flow.

“The recent court order allowed Karnataka to submit its Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu reservoir to central agencies for consideration, a move Tamil Nadu views as a setback to its long-standing objections.”

As legal and administrative steps proceed in national forums, the standoff is expected to intensify, with both the ruling party and the opposition using the issue to rally public sentiment. Farmers’ associations in the delta region have also called for strong action, warning of severe repercussions if water availability is compromised.