State urged to take up works at Mekedatu

Convenor of the Association of Concerned and Informed Citizens of Mysore M Lakshman said, succumbing to the tactics of Tamil Nadu (TN) government would jeopardise drinking water projects being taken up in the region.

Addressing a press meet, here, on Sunday, he said, the State government should immediately start works on the Mekedatu project, which is necessary to meet the growing water demands of the region. He said, the opposition of TN is against the directions of the Ministry of Water Resources, issued after Chief Secretaries of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had signed an agreement in 1998. As per the agreement, the TN government had agreed to withdraw objections to the use of Cauvery water to augment water supply to Bengaluru and other neighbouring districts, if Karnataka allowed the construction of Hogenakal water supply project.

Since, Karnataka has cooperated during the execution of the Hogenakal water supply project, Tamil Nadu should extend cooperation for Mekedatu project, he said.

All MPs of Karnataka should petition the Prime Minister and apprise him about the importance of the project. MPs of TN have already petitioned the Prime Minister, asking him to intervene and stop the project. Since, the Prime Minister heads the Cauvery River Authority, he will have a final say in the issue, he said.

The issues cannot be raised in the court, as all water sharing disputes have already been resolved with clear directions for water sharing, he added.

He said, delaying the implementation of Mekedatu project would be detrimental to other drinking water projects. One of them is the Melapura water supply plant, being taken up at Srirangapatna taluk, meant to meet the demands of Mysuru city and surrounding villages.