A day ahead of an Opposition-backed farmers’ bandh over the Mekedatu row, the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday adopted a unanimous resolution, moved by Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, urging the Centre to take necessary steps to prevent Karnataka from preparing a detailed project report (DPR).
The resolution deeply regretted and opposed the Centre’s inaction over the earlier resolution adopted by the House unanimously last December asking it to advise the Karnataka government.
Seeking a political consensus on the farmers’ issue, the Chief Minister urged all Members of Parliament from Tamil Nadu to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and hand over to him a copy of the resolution and convey the State’s stand and concerns.
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As the Centre did not intervene, the Karnataka government, despite opposition from Tamil Nadu, had allotted Rs. 25 crore for preparing the DPR to build a dam at Mekedatu, the resolution said, opposing the move.
Urging the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority immediately, the Assembly urged the Centre to clearly advise the Karnataka government not to go ahead with the Mekedatu project without Tamil Nadu’s nod till the agencies were set up.
Welcoming the resolutions, party leaders wanted the Chief Minister to lead a delegation to meet the Prime Minister on the issue.
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House postponed
Heeding to the Opposition’s request, Speaker P. Dhanapal has postponed the Assembly proceedings listed for Saturday to Monday.
In the Assembly, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member Durai Murugan asked the Speaker to postpone Saturday’s proceedings as it was the moral responsibility of members to support the farmers’ bandh.
Later, DMK leader M.K. Stalin told the media outside that his party MLAs would not attend the legislature on Saturday.
After the representation of the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) members to the Speaker, it was decided to postpone the rest of the session by a day under Section 26(2) of the Assembly rules.
Urges Centre to clearly advise Karnataka not to go ahead with the Mekedatu project without Tamil Nadu’s nod