News Brief
Karnataka To Go Ahead With ‘Controversial’ Mekedaatu Project Assures CM B S Yediyurappa Even As Tamil Nadu Opposes Dam Work On Kaveri
Harsha Bhat
Jul 07, 2021, 10:32 AM | Updated 10:32 AM IST
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
A day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Stalin objected to the proposed dam project on river Kaveri at Mekedaatu, Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa has reiterated that there was no thought about backtracking on it.
Clarifying that there was "no question of stopping it', Yediyurappa said the Karnataka government would implement the project within legal bounds.
Everything is positive for us in Mekedatu project. We will start its implementation at any cost legally. I wrote a letter to Tamil Nadu CM that we both can implement the project together but didn't get a proper response from him: Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa pic.twitter.com/B2Lb9fjMwj
— ANI (@ANI) July 6, 2021
He also reminded that he had written to Stalin on Saturday (3 July) asking him to facilitate smooth execution of the same as it would benefit people from both states. "They have not responded positively. Yet, we will implement the project," he said, as quoted.
"The implementation of the said project in no way affects the interests of the farming communities of Tamil Nadu," Yediyurappa had stated in his letter to Stalin, as reported.
Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai called the 'tone and tenor' of Stalin's response to Yediyurappa's letter inappropriate.
"Tamil Nadu has objected to all our projects from KRS to till now. As the government has changed there, our intention was to make them aware that this project was aimed at drinking water and power to Karnataka, and to manage water between both states during distress year," Bommai said, as reported.
As quoted by ANI, Bommai said: "We will continue the legal fight against Tamil Nadu for the rights of the farmers of Cauvery Valley in the state of Karnataka. We are confident that we will win. We will implement the Mekedatu plan. We will get all the clearances required by the central government based on the Supreme Court's order and direction".
Meanwhile, the state's opposition parties took offence to Yediyurappa's letter to Stalin, saying there wasn't a need for any such 'requests'.
Calling the letter by Yediyurappa 'needless', Congress leader and former chief minister Siddharamaiah said the state didn't have to seek the neighbouring state's permission for 'constructing a balancing reservoir within our (Karnataka's) territory'.
State Congress president D K Shivakumar said the letter was a sign of a lack of political will and intent. He tweeted asking why the CM couldn't simply 'carry on with the process' given that the Congress party had during its tenure 'already began the process of floating tenders for Mekedatu project'.
After Hon'ble SC had unequivocally stated in its Constitutional Bench judgement that a State need not seek permission from another riparian State for its projects, Karnataka CM seeking permission from TN CM is outrageous.
— DK Shivakumar (@DKShivakumar) July 4, 2021
It is a clear reflection of a lack of political will.
1/2
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Water Resource Minister is said to have met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat yesterday (6 July) regarding the project and the Kaveri dispute, among others. The project originally proposed in 2013 is a multipurpose project estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore and will serve both states. Under this, a balancing reservoir will be built at Mekedaatu near Kanakapura, in Ramanagara district. While it would provide drinking water, it will also generate 400 megawatts of power.
Save & read from anywhere!
Bookmark stories for easy access on any device or the Swarajya app.
Harsha is an Associate Editor at Swarajya. She tweets @bhatinmaai.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.