All-party meet seeks early nod for Mekedatu

NT Correspondent

A meeting of floor leaders of both Houses of the state L e g i s l at u re unanimously resolved to put pressure on the Cauvery Water Maintenance Authority (CWMA) and Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Ecology, New Delhi to grant early permission to take up the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagar district.

Briefing reporters after a two-hour long meeting on Friday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the Mekedatu project was discussed at length in CWMA but the proceedings were not recorded. This would be brought to the notice of the Jal Shakthi Minister and officials for recording the proceedings properly. Steps would be taken to get clearance from the Ministry of Environment for the Mekedatu project in the next meeting.

Karnataka Water Resources Minister Govind Karjol will go to Delhi next week to have a discussion with the Jal Shakthi Minister about all inter-state water disputes and seek an early solution for them. The CM also said that if necessary, he would lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet the minister concerned.

With regard to the Mahadayi project, Bommai said the state was waiting for environmental clearance as it had been allotted its share of water from River Mahadayi. All necessary permission for the execution of the remaining works would be taken at the earliest.

On the third stage of Upper Krishna projects, the CM said the Union government has not issued a gazette notification yet regarding the third stage. Two judges of the Supreme Court have recused from hearing the interim application filed by the Karnataka government in the Supreme Court.