Reject Karnataka's report for Mekedatu project: Tamil Nadu CM Vijay writes to PM Modi

PM Modi should advise the Karnataka government not to take up any new project without getting the concurrence of co-basin states, he said.

Chennai: Complaining that Karnataka deputy chief minister D K Shivakumar’s statement on the Mekedatu reservoir project has “caused a lot of concern” among farmers in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Tuesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advise the neighbouring state not to take up any new project without the concurrence of co-basin states.

In a letter to Modi on the eve of their scheduled meeting in New Delhi, Vijay said the proposed reservoir in Mekedatu with a storage capacity of 67.16 TMC just upstream of Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border is aimed at preventing the flows generated in the uncontrolled catchment.

During his maiden New Delhi visit after assuming office, Vijay will meet Modi and several Union Ministers seeking financial assistance.

Vijay asked the Prime Minister to reject the DPR of Mekedatu project proposal, as it is in contravention to the Final Award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the February 16, 2018 Supreme Court judgement.

“…also advise the Government of Karnataka not to take up any new project without getting the concurrence of co-basin states and not to violate the judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in totality,”

The Chief Minister reminded the Prime Minister that the Supreme Court in its judgment dated 16.02.2018, has held that the upper riparian State shall not take any action so as to affect the scheduled deliveries of water to the lower riparian State. “Hence, the act of proposing to construct a new Reservoir by Karnataka would amount to clear violation of the said Judgment,” Vijay told Modi.

The issue is back at the centerstage after Shivakumar’s recent statements that Karnataka will go ahead with the project and that the foundation stone for constructing a new reservoir in Mekedatu will begin soon.

While Tamil Nadu believes the project will be detrimental to the interests of farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, who are entirely dependent on Cauvery water, but Karnataka feels otherwise saying it will be beneficial to the neighbouring state.

Vijay told the Prime Minister that when Karnataka attempted to obtain Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting EIA study, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in its meeting on July 19, 2019 opined that in view of inter-state issues involved, an amicable resolution needs to be arrived between the states and returned the proposal.

“It may also be noted that the MoEF & CC has not even issued Terms of Reference (ToR) for conducting the EIA study and therefore, the attempt of Karnataka to proceed with the Mekedatu Project is a blatant violation of not only the Judgment of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, but also of the existing environmental laws,” Vijay added.

In this scenario, the Chief Minister said. it was surprising that the Union Government and the CWC, which are mandated to implement the February 2018 judgment in letter and spirit, are entertaining Karnataka’s proposal of Mekedatu Project, without considering Tamil Nadu’s plea.