As the tensions grow between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the construction of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has called an all-party meeting in the state to discuss the matter, which has been long-simmering, with the representations of all the parties. 

The all-party meeting will be first in the state after the opposition ADMK had selected the Opposition leader of the state assembly. According to reports, Stalin has called an all-party meeting on Monday- July 12. The press note released by the Chief Minister's office on Friday had requested all leaders of Tamil Nadu political parties to attend the meeting at 10.30 am on July 12. 

The press note has further stated that the Tamil Nadu government is taking all the necessary measures to prevent the construction of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river. It has added that the government has clearly affirmed its stand against the construction of the dam to the Karnataka government. The Tamil Nadu government has said that approving the construction of a dam across the Cauvery river is against the Supreme Court's judgment.

In the press note, the Tamil Nadu government has highlighted that the livelihood of farmers in Tamil Nadu will be severely affected if the project of constructing the dam takes into force. The issue over the dam construction has been boiling for many years and it recently got escalated when Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had written to his Tamil Nadu counterpart MK Stalin to permit the construction. 

Earlier last month, MK Stalin has also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi to discuss Tamil Nadu's stand against the proposed dam construction across the Cauvery river. Tamil Nadu Water Resource Minister S Duraimurugan has on July 6 met with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and urged the Union government to barricade Karnataka's dam construction project across the Cauvery river, which is an important source of water to Tamil Nadu. 

Duraimurugan said the Union Minister has assured that the Mekedatu dam project won't be given consent without the concurrence of Tamil Nadu. While addressing the reporters after meeting the Union Minister, Duraimurugan said, "I have informed the Union Minister that Karnataka has met the Union government and received permission for the Detailed Project Report without informing the neighbouring state." 

Duraimurugan further said, "However, Shekhawat said, they cannot construct with the help of the project report, and had there been any problem with the construction, we will not decide without Tamil Nadu's concurrence." Last month, Stalin has urged the Union government not to grant approval for the Mekedatu dam project and demanded the government not to consent to the project by keeping the interest of farmers in Tamil Nadu. 

As the issue has been growing between the states, Chief Minister MK Stalin has now called an all-party meeting to discuss the matter and to display that the Tamil Nadu government is more concerned about the project and to strongly press the Union government to direct the Karnataka government to stop the project. PMK Chief Ramadoss has on Thursday urged the state government to convene an all-party meeting to discuss the matter and as per Stalin's decision, an all-party meeting will be held on July 12 at 10.30 am.