TN assembly convened on Dec 6; opp parties hold protest over Mekedatu issue

Bengaluru/Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly has been convened to meet here on December 6 amid demands by the DMK-led opposition parties for a special session to discuss Karnataka’s proposal to build a dam across river Cauvery at Mekedatu.

A brief notification issued by Governor Banwarilal Purohit Tuesday said the House will meet at 4 PM Thursday, but did not mention the agenda for the session.

However, the notification came on a day when the DMK-led opposition parties staged a protest in Tiruchirappalli, in the heart of the Cauvery delta region, against the Centre’s nod to Karnataka for a Detailed Project Report for building the dam at Mekedatu across the inter-state Cauvery river and demanding special assembly session.

Addressing the protesters, DMK President M K Stalin said if the dam was permitted, it would affect Tamil Nadu farmers who depend on Cauvery waters for irrigation.

“The farmers have been already hit badly by theGaja cyclone which is a natural calamity…and now Karnataka is trying to create an artificial calamity by the proposed construction of the dam at Mekedatu. If the dam is built, Tamil Nadu will not get water for irrigation,” he said.

Stalin accused the AIADMK government of “sleeping” over the issue despite the state assembly adopting unanimous resolutions twice against it in the past.

The DMK chief also attacked the BJP-led NDA government for giving its sanction for the DPR.

He demanded convening of a special assembly session to enable adoption of a resolution opposing the dam for being sent to the Centre.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami had last week written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing his attention to Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the feasibility report for the dam earlier.

He has urged the Centre to withdraw its permission to Karnataka for the DPR.