21-07-2025
DMK government not showing interest in river linking project, says ex-CM
AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday alleged that the DMK government had not shown any interest to take forward the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project.
The former Chief Minister said his government had pursued the project vigorously and even ensured that Telangana and Andhra Pradesh governments supported the proposal. The two States had said that the project could be implemented as a drinking water project instead of being a river linking project, Mr. Palaniswam said. He was addressing farmers at Tiruvarur as part of his State-wide Makkalai Kappom, Thamizhgathai Meetpom campaign on July 21.
Mr. Palaniswami also questioned the current status of the Rasimanal Dam project. It would be possible to save around 62 tmcft of water if a dam across the Cauvery was built at Rasimanal in Tamil Nadu, he said.
The State government could have easily convinced its alliance partner Congress, which is in power in Karnataka now, to drop the Mekedatu project and favour the Rasimanal Dam project,he said.
Wondering what prevented the government from initiating steps towards achieving this goal which would favour the Delta region, he alleged that the DMK had refused to act in favour of Tamil Nadu in Cauvery issue while it shared power with the BJP and the Congress at the Centre for more than 15 years.
Later in the day, the AIADMK general secretary addressed a roadside meeting at Mannargudi where he listed various schemes implemented in the region during the AIADMK regime.
From Mannargudi, he drove to Thirubhuvanam in Thiruvidaimaruthur Assembly Segment in Thanjavur district where he solicited votes in favour of the AIADMK by enlightening the people about the steep increase in the cost of living in Tamil Nadu. 'Once the DMK came to power, almost all the sectors recorded steep price increase impacting the life of people, especially rural people. Further, education has become dearer to poor people,' he added.
From there, the AIADMK general secretary drove to Kumbakonam where he addressed the electorate soliciting their support to the party in the forthcoming Assembly elections by terming the present DMK government as a 'failed model' government.
