Chennai: The dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Cauvery river has taken a new turn following Karnataka's plan to build the Mekedatu dam.
On Friday, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution opposing Karnataka's move to construct the Mekedatu dam. The House also extended its support to all measures undertaken by the state government on the issue, while strongly opposing any new construction across the Cauvery river.
Chief Minister C. Joseph piloted the government resolution, while members of the Opposition, including Leader of the Opposition Udhyanidhi Stalin and AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, spoke on the issue.
Moving the resolution, the Chief Minister said the House records its "strong objection to the unilateral attempt of the Government of Karnataka to construct a dam across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu, without respecting the Final Award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated February 5, 2007, and the judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated February 16, 2018."
The resolution also noted that Karnataka had acted without obtaining the concurrence of the other basin states and had not secured any approval from the Union government.
Such an action, it said, was "not at all acceptable."
"This August House urges the Union Government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the Mekedatu Dam Project proposed by the Government of Karnataka. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Hon'ble Supreme Court have observed that the Cauvery Basin is a deficit basin and that the total available water in the basin has already been apportioned among the basin states," the resolution stated.
"Therefore, no new project can be undertaken in the Cauvery Basin, nor can any additional quantity of water be utilised. The Cauvery issue is a highly sensitive matter between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Hence, this August House urges the Union Government to advise the Government of Karnataka not to undertake the construction of a dam or any new water storage project at Mekedatu or at any other location in the Cauvery Basin without the concurrence of the other basin states and without the approval of the Centre," it added.
The House further urged the Central Water Commission not to examine, process, or grant approval to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka for the project.
"This August House unanimously expresses its support for all measures undertaken by the Government of Tamil Nadu to prevent this attempt by the Government of Karnataka so as to safeguard the interests of the farmers of Tamil Nadu," the resolution said.
Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed Karnataka's proposal to construct the balancing reservoir at Mekedatu, arguing that it would adversely affect the state's interests.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar has maintained that the dam would benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka. He asserted that Karnataka remains committed to releasing 177 TMC of water as directed by the Supreme Court and pledged that the state would continue to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu's farmers.
He also stated that not even a bucket of water from the proposed project would be used for irrigation and that it would be utilised only to meet Bengaluru's drinking water requirements.
- What is the Mekedatu dam project?
- The Karnataka government has proposed the Mekedatu project primarily to meet Bengaluru's growing drinking water needs and generate hydroelectric power.
- The project envisages the construction of a dam across the Cauvery River near its confluence with the Arkavathi River in Ramanagara district at Kanakapura, the hometown of Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar.
- It also includes a hydroelectric power station with an installed capacity of 400 MW of renewable energy.
