Karnataka to discuss TN's river-linking project with Centre

Karnataka will apprise to the Centre its concern over Tamil Nadu's plan to build the Cauvery-Vellaru-Vaigai-Gundar link scheme to utilise surplus Cauvery water, Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi said here on Sunday.

Jarkiholi, who held a meeting with Karnataka's legal team on inter-state water dispute here, told reporters that the state will take all steps to protect its interests. It will take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon, he said.

Meeting today

The minister is likely to meet Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in this regard on Monday.

"Soon, an all-party leaders' meeting will be convened in Bengaluru to seek their opinion to protect the interests of the state in water disputes," he said.

The link scheme falls within the Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu. So, the neighbouring state should not put hurdles to any projects proposed by Karnataka within its Cauvery basin, he said.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami laid the foundation stone for the first phase of the link scheme on Sunday.

"If the Centre gives approval to Tamil Nadu to utilise its surplus Cauvery water, similar approval should be given to Karnataka to build projects within its Cauvery basin area, including Mekedatu, to utilise surplus water," an official from the state said.

Tamil Nadu is implementing the link scheme to provide water to its southern region under the Centre's river-linking project.

However, Karnataka apprehends that the neighbouring state may put legal hurdles for it to utilise its share and excess water generated in its basin in future.

According to Karnataka, after ensuring 177.25 tmc feet to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu water gauging centre in a normal year, the rest belongs to Karnataka, which includes its share of 284.75 tmc feet and 45 tmc feet surplus water, whenever available. However, Tamil Nadu has been opposing Karnataka's stand.

When Karnataka proposed to build a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu to utilise surplus water to provide drinking water to Ramanagar and Kanakapura towns, Tamil Nadu filed a petition in the Supreme Court against the project.

The 262-km river-linking project, costing Rs 14,000 crore, aims to divert 6,300 cubic feet of surplus Cauvery water to the southern districts of TN. The Jal Shakti Ministry will fund the project substantially.