Tamil Nadu CM Urges PM Against Mekedatu Dam Without Consent

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Wednesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to allow Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project without the consent of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, saying the move had triggered anxiety among farmers in the state.

Vijay called on Modi for the first time after becoming CM at this office in Delhi and submitted a memorandum on various state issues. Vijay said Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar’s announcement on conducting bhoomi puja for the Mekedatu project was against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court verdict. He urged the PM to direct the Jal Shakti ministry and the Central Water Commission not to clear the project without the consent of the lower riparian states.

The chief minister also sought a clarification from the Union home ministry allowing Tamil Thai Vazhthu to continue to be sung at the beginning of all govt functions in Tamil Nadu. Vijay said that while the state anthem had traditionally been rendered at the start of govt events, certain functions were now beginning with the national song following a home ministry communication issued in January this year.

Vijay further requested the PM to facilitate the establishment of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) in Tamil Nadu. He said discussions had been held with DRDO over the past few years regarding setting up the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft design and development centre and CABS in the state.

Raising the fishermen issue, Vijay said arrests and harassment of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy had increased to “alarming levels”. He said 12 arrest incidents had been reported in 2026 alone, with 58 fishermen currently lodged in Sri Lankan custody and 266 boats seized. He urged the Centre to press Sri Lanka for the immediate release of the fishermen and their boats.