Edappadi K. Palaniswami, the general secretary of the AIADMK and Tamil Nadu's Leader of Opposition, has criticized Chief Minister MK Stalin for his "silence" regarding the Kerala government's decision to build a dam over the Silandhi River, a tributary of the Amaravathy river. Palaniswami urged Stalin to take legal action to protect Tamil Nadu's water rights.
Palaniswami's comments come in the context of the long-standing water-sharing disputes involving the Cauvery River, with the Amaravathy being its longest tributary. The disputes primarily involve Tamil Nadu and Karnataka but now extend to concerns over Kerala's plans.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Palaniswami accused Stalin of remaining silent on this issue to benefit the opposition alliance, which includes the DMK and Congress under the INDIA bloc. He emphasized that this silence is detrimental to Tamil Nadu's water rights, not only in the current situation with Kerala but also in ongoing disputes with Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
Palaniswami expressed his disapproval of Kerala's plan to construct a check dam across the Silandhi River, which could affect the water supply to the Amaravathy dam in Tamil Nadu. He called for immediate legal action from Chief Minister Stalin to safeguard the state's rights.
Reports indicate that Kerala's proposed check dam has raised concerns among experts and Tamil Nadu leaders about potential water scarcity resulting from the diversion of the Silandhi River. Palaniswami's statements highlight the urgency of addressing this issue to prevent adverse impacts on Tamil Nadu's water resources.
