Chennai: DMK has hit out at chief minister C Joseph Vijay for failing to raise Mekedatu dam issue in Niti Aayog meeting in New Delhi, despite Karnataka stepping up efforts to build the dam. DMK also questioned Vijay for not urging Karnataka to release water in Cauvery for kuruvai cultivation, though he visited the state on Friday to offer prayers at Kollur Mookambika temple.Leader of opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin said TVK govt had attempted to claim credit for performance of Tamil Nadu govt over years at the Niti Aayog meeting, but went into ‘silent mode’ on Mekedatu issue.“Though he travelled all the way to Delhi, he neither raised Mekedatu issue at NITI Aayog meeting nor spoke about it with his new alliance partner (Congress), which governs Karnataka. Instead, he chose to remain silent,’’ Udhayanidhi said in an X post.Udhayanidhi also accused Vijay of creating a ‘fake narrative as if TN was drowning in debt,’ but he read out a long list of state’s achievements at Niti Aayog meeting like TN being the second largest economy in India and that state progressed in women’s education, safety and healthcare. “CM must explain whether these achievements were accomplished during his one month old ‘sofa model govt,’ or whether they are the achievements of Dravidian model govt,’’ Udhayanidhi asked.DMK farmers wing secretary A K S Vijayan said, “TVK govt should hold talks with Karnataka to secure Cauvery water. The govt should strongly oppose Mekedatu Dam, convene an all-party meeting to discuss agricultural policies, and consult with farmers’ organisations.”AIADMK, meanwhile, questioned the rationale behind announcing Kuruvai package when there was no water release from Mettur dam.“The govt has issued yet another empty and deceptive announcement, without even a basic understanding of the pain and suffering of farmers,” said AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami. He said the announcement that three-phase power would be supplied for 18 hours was also deceptive as running pump sets is impossible due to frequent unannounced power cuts.BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran asked whether CM Joseph Vijay came to know that Mettur dam had inadequate water only on June 12.“May we know when your Kuruvai special package will be rolled out? When will the delta farmers be able to start their sowing? Did you at least study the practical feasibility of irrigating lakhs of acres using only drip pipes, without rainwater or dam water?” he asked.Nagenthran urged the govt to form an expert committee and provide suitable compensation to the affected farmers.
