'State has the right to build dam at Mekedatu'

Water Resources Minister M B Patil on Thursday said the Karnataka government had the right to construct a dam at Mekedatu on the Cauvery river without violating the order of the Cauvery River Water Tribunal.

“The Government of Karnataka is not violating any of the tribunal awards. Within the legal framework, we have to give 192 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu in an average year... Beyond 192 tmc, if there is any (surplus) water during floods within our own territory, Karnataka has the right to use that water,” he said.

Stating that an Express of Interest (EoI) has been called for preparing a detailed project report for the proposed reservoir at Mekedatu, the minister told reporters here that there was drinking water crises in Old Mysuru Cauvery delta region and many parts of Bengaluru. “Why should I allow water to go waste? We do not have drinking water for the Old Mysuru Cauvery delta region and two-thirds of Bengaluru City do not have drinking water,“ he said. Patil said the last date for submitting the EoI had been extended to December from the previous deadline of this month-end.