Approve Mekedatu, give funds for irrigation projects: DKS to Centre

NT Correspondent

Udaipur: Deputy Chief Minister and Minister for Major Irrigation DK Shivakumar urged the Centre to grant approvals for the Mekedatu project and release pending funds for various irrigation projects in Karnataka. He made the comments in Udaipur city in Rajasthan on Tuesday at the second All India State Water Ministers’ Conference 2025 with the theme ‘India@2047 – A water secure nation’. “The Union Ministry of Jal Shakti must instruct the Central Water Commission (CWC) to grant approval for the Mekedatu project on a priority basis.

This project will help Karnataka release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as per the specified monthly quantum. Besides, the project will also help generate 400 MW (Mega Watt) of power and also fulfill drinking water needs of Bengaluru,” Shivakumar said. Mekedatu, Kannada for “goat’s leap” is a multi-purpose project under which a balancing reservoir would be built near the gorge which is home to the confluence of Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers in Ramanagara district bordering Chamarajanagar district. The project would provide 4.75 Thousand Million Cubic Feet (tmcft) of drinking water to Bengaluru.

However, neighbouring Tamil Nadu doesn’t favour Karnataka damming rivers upstream from their state. “The Centre had announced a grant of Rs 5,300 crores for the Upper Bhadra project in the 2023-24 budget yet the amount has not been released. I appeal to the Union government to release funds for the project as it caters to drought-affected Central Karnataka region,” Shivakumar said.

“I also appeal to the Ministry of Jal Shakthi to move the Supreme Court by filing an application for modification of its order dated 16.09.2011 and take consequential steps for Gazette Notification of the Award of the Krishna Water Dispute Tribunal (KWDT-II), which was pronounced during 2010 to enable Karnataka make use of its allocated share,” he added.

Kalasa-Banduri brought up: Shivakumar also touched on the Mahadayi project, which has been a point of friction with neighbouring Goa and Maharashtra. “I also request the Jal Shakti ministry to impress upon the Ministry of Environment to direct the National Board for Wildlife to give requisite clearances to Kalasa Nala scheme related to Mahadayi Water Dispute Tribunal that was pronounced its award in August 2018,” he said.

“The National Water Development Agency must re-visit the State-wise provisions related to Godavari-Cauvery Link Project under Inter Linking of Rivers Scheme for irrigation water use and allocate the rightful share to the State of Karnataka on the ‘principle of equity and equitable apportionment’ basis as the current allocation proposed for Karnataka stands at a meagre 15.891 TMC (10.74 per cent),” he added. Congratulating and thanking the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti for organising a national level conference of state irrigation ministers, he appealed to the Union Jal Shakthi Minister to look into Karnataka’s demands on priority.