DMDK's Premalatha urges CM Vijay to lead all-party delegation to PM Modi on Mekedatu issue

CHENNAI: Asserting Tamil Nadu's rights over Cauvery water, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth on Friday urged Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stall Karnataka's Mekedatu dam project.

"I placed a request today (at the Assmebly) that our Chief Minister Vijay should unite all the leaders of Tamil Nadu and go meet the Prime Minister, just as Captain went and met him for the people, to say that the Mekedatu dam should not be built and our rights in Cauvery must be given," Premalatha said.

Addressing the media at the Secretariat following the Assembly session, Premalatha stressed the need for "strong decisions" to protect the state's farmers and their livelihoods. Recalling the tenure of late DMDK founder 'Captain' Vijayakanth as the Leader of the Opposition, she noted that he had successfully led a similar all-party delegation to the Prime Minister for the state's welfare. She emphasised that the Chief Minister must unite all political parties and Members of Parliament to exert collective pressure on the Union Government.

Shifting focus to the state's agriculture sector, the DMDK leader highlighted the severe distress faced by farmers due to unseasonal rains. Pointing out that harvested paddy grains in bags left in the open were sprouting and getting damaged in several villages in her constituency -- including Sathugudal, Kargudal, Karavelangurichi, Vayalur, and Chinnaparur -- the Vriddhachalam MLA demanded the immediate construction of protective warehouses. She also underscored the importance of long-term water management, calling for the construction of check dams and effective rainwater harvesting to transform Tamil Nadu into a water-surplus state.

Premalatha further urged the state government to expedite the release of constituency development funds. She requested that immediate directives be issued to District Collectors to ensure developmental works in the constituencies commence without administrative delays.

Regarding the closure of TASMAC liquor outlets, she acknowledged the government's claim of shutting down 737 shops but pointed out that several outlets were still operating in areas like Saligramam, an issue she had formally brought to the attention of the local MLA.