Karnataka CM Yediyurappa Says Won't Allow Tamil Nadu To Go Ahead With Cauvery River Linking Project

Opposing the move by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister (CM) EK Palaniswami to lay the foundation stone for the ambitious project linking Vellar-Vaigai-Gundar rivers with Cauvery, Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa has said that his government cannot allow the project, reports Economic Times.

CM Yediyurappa's push back came just a day after CM Palaniswami kicked off the Rs 14,400 crore project under which the Tamil Nadu Government aims to use the 6,000 cubic feet of surplus water in the arid areas of the state.

Yediyurappa said, "There is no point in issuing statements. We will not allow Tamil Nadu to do that. We will take tough measures."

Meanwhile, it should be noted that Karnataka has also been pursuing the building of a balancing reservoir on its borders with Tamil Nadu across the river near Mekedatu to help the state in meeting the drinking water needs of Bengaluru.

Former CM HD Kumaraswamy government's move to pursue the old demand for the reservoir had also been met with opposition from Tamil Nadu. A delegation of the DMK led by party's supremo MK Stalin had also called on Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and urged him to not allow Karnataka to build the reservoir.