DMK opposes Karnataka Minister's statement on Mekedatu project

Strongly opposing the Karnataka Water Resources Minister's reported remarks that his government would go ahead with the Mekedatu drinking water project, DMK President M Karunanidhi today urged the Tamil Nadu government to approach the Supreme Court after an all-party meet on the issue.

"The Tamil Nadu government should immediately convene an all-party meeting on the issue affecting the livelihood of Tamil Nadu farmers. It should approach the Supreme Court and Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal," he said in a statement.

The 91-year-old DMK patriarch also demanded that the government convene an Assembly session and pass a resolution in this regard, condemning the Karnataka government and the Minister concerned.

A section of the media had reported Karnataka Water Resources Minister M B Patil as saying that his government would go ahead with the project following advice by legal experts that Tamil Nadu's objection to the project would not stand legal scrutiny.

Patil had said he had recently spoken to senior counsel Fali Nariman who had stated that the project would not violate any water-sharing agreement.

The project envisages providing drinking water for the whole of Bengaluru and some parts of old Mysore by 2030.

Karunanidhi further urged the Tamil Nadu government to impress upon the Central government that this scheme "cannot be and should not be implemented" without the approval from the Union government and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

"The Karnataka Minister's statement, without consulting anyone in this matter, has overstepped the verdict of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal," the DMK patriarch said.

While water sharing from Karnataka has been a major challenge even without this project, Patil's statement has further affected farmers of Tamil Nadu, he said, adding that DMK is in the forefront of the issue, struggling for the welfare of Tamil Nadu farmers.

MDMK leader Vaiko also opposed implementation of Mekedatu project, which he contended would affect water flow into Tamil Nadu and eventually the farmers in the state and demanded that the Centre press the Karnataka government not to implement it.

"The Karnataka government has said it has sought MoEF clearance for the project. The Centre should realise that this project will affect the interests of Tamil Nadu and should not grant clearance for this project," he said in a statement.

The Centre should press the Karnataka government to not implement the project, Vaiko said adding that there would be a permanent solution to this issue only if the Centre forms the Cauvery Water Management Board and Cauvery Regulatory Authority as recommended by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.