CM: TN’s letter to PM a ‘political stunt’

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday termed as a “political stunt” Tamil Nadu’s letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to restrain the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) from discussing the Mekedatu project in its meeting on June 17.

Calling it “illegal” and “against the federal system”, he said, the neighbouring state’s demand does not have any “locus standi” and the Centre will not consider it. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday sought Prime Minister’s intervention to restrain the CWMA from discussing Karnataka’s Mekedatu project proposal in its meeting.

Stalin said the scope of the functioning of the CWMA is limited to implementing the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Cauvery issue and it cannot consider any other subject. Also, the matter is sub judice and Tamil Nadu’s petitions in this regard are pending before the apex court.

“Regarding the Mekedatu project, the Central Water Commission (CWC), while receiving our DPR, had put forth a condition that it has to be approved by the Cauvery Water Management Authority, and accordingly it is now before the Board (CWMA) and several meetings have taken place,” Bommai said. Speaking to reporters here, he said, when the matter is coming up before the Authority “for a finality”, the neighbouring Tamil Nadu is creating issues.

“I have got information about Tamil Nadu writing a letter to the Prime Minister, and I got a copy of it. Their (TN) demand is illegal, against the federal system, and it is a conspiracy to misuse the water on which we have rights,” he added.

Stalin, in his letter, had requested the Prime Minister to instruct the Jal Shakti Ministry to advise the CWMA’s chairman to desist from taking up any discussion on the Mekedatu drinking water project, till the issues are heard and decided by the Supreme Court. Last week, the Tamil Nadu government had moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the CWMA restraining any discussion on the project at its meeting.