Water Woes Continue: TN Government To Move SC Against CWC’s Approval Of Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam Proposal

The Central Water Commission’s approval of the Karnataka government’s proposal to build a balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu across the Cauvery, has created a storm in Tamil Nadu, with the government deciding to move the Supreme Court against the decision and Opposition leader and DMK president MK Stalin announcing a protest on 4 December at Tiruchi to condemn the decision, reports First Post.

The development comes after the DMK called a meeting on Thursday (29 November) which consisted of their allies and other friendly parties to discuss the issue while asking the ruling AIADMK government to approach the apex court of the country to obtain a stay on the Centre’s permission and the efforts made across the border by the Karnataka government for the dam.

The Rs 5,912-crore project proposed by the Karnataka government and approved by the CWC is a balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu and is set to provide water to villages in Kolar, Ramnagara and Bengaluru districts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister E Palaniswami on Tuesday (27 November) has put pressure on the Centre to withdraw its permission for preparing a Detailed Project Report while urging the Prime Minister to not grant permission to any project across the Cauvery without consensus among the co-basin states of Puducherry, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

"The proposal for the reservoir is not just for drinking water alone as claimed by Karnataka, but to increase the extent of irrigation which is in clear violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award," said Palaniswami.

“The CWC, without considering the genuine and justifiable objections of Tamil Nadu, has given permission to Karnataka to prepare the DPR for the Mekedatu project,” he said.

“The CWC's action has caused apprehension among people as its decision will affect the livelihood of lakhs of farmers who depend on the Cauvery water,” he added.

Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy emphasised that the project has to come into effect, in reaction to the Tamil Nadu government’s demand.