TN moves SC to stall Mekedatu dam plan

Tamil Nadu on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court to restrain Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to construct two new reservoirs across Mekedatu.

In its application, Tamil Nadu has said, the impending action, including proposed hydro-power projects could jeopardise livelihood of lakhs of farmers by affecting flow of Cauvery river, when “about 2,500 acre of forest land would be submerged.”

Briefing reporters in Chennai, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said, after consulting legal experts, Tamil Nadu has filed an interim petition to stall Karnataka’s move for construction of dams along river Cauvery.

Tamil Nadu, in its petition, has urged the apex court to direct Karnataka to withdraw the notice inviting global expression of interest for technical study to construct two reservoirs under the guise of drinking water projects.

Stating that Karnataka has been repeatedly violating the final order of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, dated 05.02.2007 as notified in the gazette on 19.02.2013, thereby, seriously jeopardising the rights of the lower riparian State of Tamil Nadu,  Panneerselvam said, “the latest in the series of violation,” would affect the livelihood of lakhs of farmers.
 
Citing news report about Karnataka’s plans to go ahead with the projects, Tamil Nadu has sought a restrain order against Karnataka in view of pendency of its plea for constitution of Cauvery Management Board and civil appeals.

Panneerselvam said Tamil Nadu had filed an interlocutory application to restrain Karnataka government, among others, from executing Mekedatu Hydro Electric Project unilaterally and it should only be executed comprehensively with Sivasamudhram, Mekedatu, Hogenekkal and Rasimanal Hydro Electric Projects, as envisaged by the National Hydro Electric Power Corporation. 

Tamil Nadu has claimed that four projects — Sivasamudram (270 MW), Mekedatu (400 MW), Rasimanal (360 MW) and Hogenekkal (120 MW) have been identified in the reach between Sivasamudram and Hogenekkal, first two in Karnataka reach and the other two in the common reach between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which were covered by the tribunal’s order.

“Inspite of letters to Ministry of Water Resources, Karnataka and Prime Minister, Government of India has not issued any instructions or directions to Karnataka not to proceed with the schemes or projects not contemplated in the final decision of the Tribunal,” the application said.

Stating that Karnataka has invited Global Expression of Interest (EOI) for a technical feasibility study to construct two reservoirs at Mekedatu to store additional water, Panneerselvam said Karnataka’s plan to construct two reservoirs at Mekedatu across River Cauvery would be clear violation of the Final Order of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

Panneerselvam also said he had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his personal intervention to advise Karnataka to withhold the EOI and advise Karnataka not to proceed with any further action regarding technical feasibility study and not to take any steps to execute any irrigation, hydro power schemes or any other scheme in the guise of drinking water supply in the Cauvery.