SALEM: Karnataka should not be allowed to construct a dam across the Cauvery river in Mekedatu as it will amount to genocide against Tamil Nadu, PMK leader Dr Anbumani Ramadoss said on Thursday.Anbumani, who is taking out a public awareness march against the move to construct a dam at Mekedatu, told reporters in Salem that the Cauvery is the lifeline of Tamil Nadu. “A new dam will severely affect agriculture in Tamil Nadu and the livelihood of people. The state would turn into a desert,” he said. Anbumani warned that if a dam was constructed in Mekedatu, the Cauvery river would serve only Karnataka. Forests would be destroyed and wildlife would vanish, he said. He said Karnataka chief minister D K Shivakumar was showing intense interest in building the dam as he wanted to secure his political position. “Mettur dam currently holds only 40 TMC of water. Though the customary date of water release it June 12, the dam was not opened on that date this year,” he said.He said more than 16 districts in Tamil Nadu depended on Mettur dam for drinking water. “But with poor inflow, the dam is drying up,” he added.He said Karnataka could not construct a dam without Tamil Nadu’s consent.
