Chennai: The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has said Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the Mekedatu project in Karnataka has been recorded.
Masood Hussain, the authority’s Chairman told reporters after the CWMA meeting in New Delhi on Monday, that the Mekedatu issue was not discussed in detail at the meeting but was just listed for informing the members of the Authority.
The Central Water Commission’s (CWC) nod for the project was only for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and not for the construction of the dam across Cauvery river, Mr. Masood Hussain said and claimed that the DPR must be approved by CWMA before the Ministry of Water Resources considers it.
Tamil Nadu has received its share of water from Cauvery this year due to good monsoons in the river basin. The next meeting of the CWMA is scheduled to be held in January, he said.
The CWC had recently permitted Karnataka’s Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited to prepare the DPR for the construction of the multi-purpose balancing reservoir at Mekedatu across river Cauvery in Ramanagara district.
Tamil Nadu, which has been opposing the proposed project, said it would adversely impact the farmers in the State, which lies downstream in the course of the river.
On November 29, Tamil Nadu government moved the Supreme Court seeking to restrain Karnataka from preparing the DPR. In its civil petition, Tamil Nadu stated, “Restrain the State of Karnataka from proceeding with the construction of two reservoirs at Mekedatu across river Cauvery as contemplated by the State of Karnataka or any other new projects across the river Cauvery in Karnataka which are not contemplated and / or permitted in the final decision of the Tribunal.”
Meanwhile, Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary, Water Resources Department, Karnataka has submitted that Tamil Nadu has no locus standi to object to Mekedatu project. “Karnataka clearly stated that the project will only store the excess Cauvery water and will not cause any impediment for Tamil Nadu’s share of water,” he said.
