Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly will meet on December 6 to discuss about the crisis emerging out of the neighbouring Karnataka’s adamant stand in proceeding with the Mekedatu project, and in the backdrop of the Central Water Commission (CWC) giving its nod for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project across the Cauvery river.
It is expected that a unanimous resolution would be passed in the Assembly against Karnataka demanding that the dam should not be allowed.
According to a release from the Assembly Secretary K. Srinivasan, here on Tuesday evening, Governor Banwarilal Purohit has summoned the TN Legislative Assembly to meet at 4 pm on Dec. 6, in the Assembly Chamber, Secretariat, in exercise of the powers conferred upon him by clause (1) of Article 174 of the Constitution of India.
Reacting sharply to the development, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami had on Nov. 27 wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to withdraw the permission granted for preparing the DPR for the balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu. The proposal for reservoir was not just for drinking water alone as claimed by Karnataka, but also to increase the extent of irrigation, which is in clear violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award as affirmed by the Supreme Court, the CM had contended.
DMK president M. K. Stalin who slammed the Centre for giving its nod, said the opposition parties will not allow the Prime Minister to enter Tamil Nadu if Mr. Modi betrays the interests of the State on Mekedatu dam issue. “I firmly say that the opposition parties will create a situation that Mr. Modi could not enter into the State if he does not take a good decision to save the people of the State from this issue,” Mr. Stalin warned while addressing a crowded meeting in Trichy.
Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Finance and Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan lashed out at the opposition parties in TN, saying they were overreacting. “There is no need for the DMK to hold a meeting on Mekedatu in Tiruchy. While speaking to reporters in Coimbatore on Tuesday, Mr. Radhakrishnan said the Centre had given approval only to prepare a DPR but not for construction of the dam.
The CWC gave its nod in November 2018 to the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Ltd., Karnataka, to go ahead with the preparation of DPR for the Mekedatu project.
