A heated exchange broke out in the Tamil Nadu Assembly during a special attention discussion on Cauvery water issues and the proposed Mekedatu dam.
Opposition leader Udhayanidhi urged the government to convene an all-party meeting on the Cauvery–Mekedatu dispute. He said Kuruvai cultivation in delta districts had fallen from about 6 lakh acres last year to around 1.50 lakh acres this year, and demanded relief for farmers affected by the setback.
Chief Minister Vijay intervened, stating that relief for Kuruvai cultivation had already been provided. He also took a swipe at the opposition leader, saying that if he had read newspapers earlier, he would have known what was happening.
Udhayanidhi responded that ₹134 crore had been given under a Kuruvai special package, which he said was a routine measure across governments, and argued that farmers were seeking drought relief specifically. He reiterated the call for an all-party meeting and said the government should consult farmers directly.
Minister Sengottaiyan said crop enumeration would continue until next month, after which relief would be provided.
