Rohit Kumar
Port Blair, 18 January 2022
BJP leaders hailing from the Tamil Community today protested against Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Secretary, All India Congress Committee, Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma’s participation in the recently held Mekedatu Padyatra in Karnataka.
Congress on January 09 2022 started a padyatra from Mekedatu to Bengaluru to press for early implementation of Mekedatu Drinking Water Project across Cauvery.
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma as Secretary, AICC attached to the General Secretary (In-Charge), Karnataka participated in the Mekedatu Padyatra in Karnataka.
Many members of the Tamil Community residing in Andaman and Nicobar Islands spoke out against the Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands participating in a padyatra which they claim is aimed at harming the people of Tamil Nadu by curtailing their water supply.
The Megedatu Project was conceived in 1968. It envisages impounding 66 TMC (one thousand million cubic feet) of water and generate 440 megwatts of power. While it was estimated to cost ₹5,912 crore in 2013, the figure had been revised to ₹9,500 crore in 2018.
Giving a detailed account of how the proposed dam would affect Tamil Nadu, Mr. M K Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu recently said: “Karnataka is supposed to release Cauvery water from three sources: 1) The water flowing in the areas downstream River Kabini, catchment areas of Krishnarajasagar reservoir, the sub-basins of Shimsha, Arkavathi, and Suvarnavathi rivers, and the water from minor rivers; 2) water released from Kabini dam; 3) water released from Krishnarajasagar dam.”
As the second and third sources are under the control of Karnataka, water could be released to Tamil Nadu only after storing sufficient water for their use. “But, since there is no dam on the first source, water from this area has been reaching Tamil Nadu so far without any hindrance. Now, Karnataka is conspiring to block this source also in the guise of Mekedatu dam,” the chief minister pointed out.
BJP leaders hailing from the Tamil community today gathered at the Thiruvalluvar Statute at Haddo and protested against Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, Andaman and Nicobar Islands participating in the Mekedatu Padyatra.
Mr. K Ramdas, State General Secretary (Organisation), Bharatiya Janata Party, Andaman and Nicobar Islands while speaking to Nicobar Times informed that Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma secured his win in the election with huge support from the Tamilian Community of the Islands. He added that the participation of the Member of Parliament of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in a controversial rally aimed at harming the people of Tamil Nadu has not gone well with the Tamil Community Members. Mr. Ramdas demanded an apology from Mr. Sharma.
Several prominent BJP leaders of Andaman and Nicobar Islands hailing from the Tamil community were present at the protest.