DMK Government Stalled Cauvery-Gundar River-Linking Project: Palaniswami

Rapid Summary

• Allegations on Cauvery-Gundar river-linking project:

– AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami accused the ruling DMK government of halting the ₹14,000 crore Cauvery-Gundar river-linking project initiated during the AIADMK regime.
– The project, which started in Pudukottai with an initial allocation of ₹700 crores, was aimed at benefiting farmers by improving groundwater recharge and agricultural opportunities.
– According to Mr.Palaniswami, the DMK has stalled progress due to political biases.

• Debt burden concerns:

– Mr. Palaniswami criticized the DMK for increasing Tamil Nadu’s debt substantially over four years: rising from ₹5.18 lakh crore (till 2021) to a projected ₹10.56 lakh crore by 2025-26.
– He warned that this debt would lead to higher taxes on common citizens.

• Revenue increase vs lack of projects:

– Despite claims that state revenue has grown since DMK came into power in comparison to its levels under AIADMK in 2021, Mr. Palaniswami argued no significant new projects were implemented and existing ones were neglected.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The accusations made by edappadi K. Palaniswami highlight perennial issues in Indian politics: the continuity of governance beyond party lines and effective management of public finances for developmental needs without overburdening taxpayers.

The alleged stalling of large-scale irrigation projects like Cauvery-Gundar raises questions about whether partisan interests are affecting long-term infrastructure advancement critical for water-scarce states like Tamil Nadu. If true, this undermines both farmer welfare and regional economic growth prospects.Concerns about escalating public debt are also crucial as they directly impact fiscal health and future taxation policies that affect citizens at large-especially farmers and marginal communities who are already vulnerable economically.

Balanced governance requires prioritizing people-centric development while ensuring financial sustainability-a challenge each government faces irrespective of its political leanings.

Link: No direct link available.