AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to discuss the Mekedatu dam project with Congress leaders. During his visit on Monday, Vijay should press for Supreme Court orders on the Cauvery issue. Palaniswami said the dam threatens irrigation and water supply for many Tamil districts.
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Sunday (November 15, 2026) urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to take up Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project with the Congress leadership during his likely visit to New Delhi on Monday (November 16, 2026) and press for the implementation of Supreme Court orders on the Cauvery issue.
In a statement, Mr. Palaniswami criticised Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar for repeatedly asserting that building a dam at Mekedatu was Karnataka's right and required no one's permission. He said such remarks could create differences between the people of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Accusing the Congress government in Karnataka of disregarding the Supreme Court verdict on water release, Mr. Palaniswami said the proposed dam would threaten irrigation in the Cauvery Delta districts and drinking water supply to 20 districts in Tamil Nadu. He urged Mr. Vijay to raise the issue with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.