The Puducherry Legislative Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the proposed Mekedatu dam by the Karnataka Government. Moving the resolution, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy said the Centre should not permit construction of the dam, located about five kilometres from the Tamil Nadu border, as it would be against the interests of the people of Puducherry and contrary to the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal upheld by the Supreme Court. The Assembly also urged the Centre to restrain Karnataka from taking further action without the consent of the Cauvery basin States, including Puducherry.

 

The Chief Minister said the Puducherry Government would take all administrative and legal measures to protect the water rights of the Union Territory and safeguard the interests of farmers in Karaikal. The Assembly extended its unanimous support to such measures. The resolution, originally brought as a private member’s resolution, was adopted as a government resolution. Pro-tem Speaker A. Anbazhagan later announced that the Assembly had been adjourned sine die after a six-day sitting that began on the 24th August.