Karnataka To Go Ahead With ‘Controversial’ Mekedatu Project, Assures CM Yediyurappa Even As TN Opposes Dam Work On Kaveri

A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin objected to the proposed dam project on river Kaveri at Mekedaatu, Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa has reiterated that there was no thought about backtracking on it.

He also reminded that he had written to Stalin on saturday asking him to facilitate a smooth execution of the same as it would benefit people from both states. "They have not responded positively. Yet, we will implement the project," he said, as quoted.

“The implementation of the said project in no way affects the interests of the farming communities of Tamil Nadu,” Yediyurappa had stated in his letter to Stalin, as reported.

Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai called the ‘tone and tenor’ of Stalin’s response to Yediyurappa’s letter inappropriate.

“Tamil Nadu has objected to all our projects from KRS to till now. As the government has changed there, our intention was to make them aware that this project was aimed at drinking water and power to Karnataka, and to manage water between both states during distress year," Bommai said, as reported.

Meanwhile the state’s opposition parties took offence to Yediyurappa’s letter to Stalin saying there wasnt a need for any such ‘requests’.

Calling the letter by Yediyurappa‘needless’, Congress leader and former Chief Minister Siddharamaiah said the state didn’t have to seek the neighbouring state’s permission for ‘constructing a balancing reservoir within our (Karnataka’s) territory’.

State Congress president D K Shivakumar said the letter was a sign of lack of political will and intent. He tweeted asking why the CM couldnt simply ‘carry on with the process’ given that the Congress party had during its tenure, ‘already began the process of floating tenders for Mekedatu project’.