State unites to counter TN on Mekedatu

NT Correspondent

Asserting that the state government is committed to protecting the land, language and water of Karnataka, Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said the State would move a condemnation resolution on Wednesday against the Tamil Nadu government for moving a resolution against the construction of a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagar district on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.

“I will hold a meeting with the law department on Tuesday evening and come out with a strongly worded resolution against the ‘unwarranted’ resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu government which is dangerous for the federal system. Our government is committed to take up the Mekadatu project at any cost and an all-party delegation will be taken to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and urge him to direct the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests to give clearance for the project”, the CM said amidst thunderous applause from members belonged to both the ruling and opposition parties, following a zero hour discussion initiated by H.K. Patil (Congress) in the State Legislative Assembly..

Bommai said the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had given its final verdict on the share of Cauvery water for Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and the same has been notified. Accordingly, the State releases 177 tmc of ft of water to TN every year and the excess water is going waste without utilisation. So, the Government of Karnataka has planned a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu to store the additional water after releasing 177 tmc ft of water to the neighbouring state.

Even the counsel for TN has agreed before the Cauvery Water Management Board that they did not have objection if Karnataka takes up the balancing reservoir project. Despite this, the TN government had put pressure on the Union government while objecting to the project claiming that it would reduce the release of water to them every year. This claim is false and unfounded as Karnataka intends to store only excess water.

“We cannot be cowed down by such illogical arguments. We will go ahead with the Mekedatu project after obtaining clearance from the department concerned. The Tribunal has allotted 4.5 tmc of water exclusively for Bengaluru city. The government has initially earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for this project and more funds would be pumped in as the work progresses”.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said being the upper riparian state, Karnataka has been meted out injustice in all previous agreements during the pre and post-independence era. Tamil Nadu objects to any work or project proposed by Karnataka and the latest is the Mekedatu project which involves in the construction of a balancing reservoir to impound around 66 tmc ft of water after releasing 177 tmc ft of water to TN annually. Nearly 30 per cent of Bengaluru City does not get Cauvery water. The need of the hour is a unanimous resolution condemning TN for trying to scuttle the Mekedatu project. If necessary, the state government must take a delegation to meet the PM and put pressure on him to give early clearance for the project.

Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said being the upper riparian state, Karnataka has been meted out injustice in all previous agreements during the pre and post-independence era. Tamil Nadu objects to any work or project proposed by Karnataka and the latest is the Mekedatu project which involves in the construction of a balancing reservoir to impound around 66 tmc ft of water after releasing 177 tmc ft of water to TN annually. Nearly 30 per cent of Bengaluru City does not get Cauvery water. The need of the hour is a unanimous resolution condemning TN for trying to scuttle the Mekedatu project. If necessary, the state government must take a delegation to meet the PM and put pressure on him to give early clearance for the project.