Karnataka, Tamil Nadu MPs clash over Mekedatu in LS

A verbal duel between members from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the Mekedatu project on river Cauvery drowned the Lok Sabha proceedings on Thursday.

Warring members of the AIADMK and those from the Congress, BJP and JD(S) from Karnataka forced adjournment of the Question Hour.

When the House reconvened at noon, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan allowed P Venugopal of the AIADMK to place his concerns before the House.

“The Mekedatu project on the Cauvery river is a clear violation of the award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. The project is being constructed not only for providing drinking water, but also for irrigation purpose,” Venugopal said as AIADMK members waved placards and raised slogans against the project.

Venugopal said the dam will affect lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu, as it will impact availability of water for irrigation purposes.

BJP member from Karnataka Prahlad Joshi disputed Venugopal's claims. He insisted that Karnataka government was building only a balancing reservoir under the Mekedatu project.

“The government has only sanctioned preparation of a Detailed Project Report for building a balancing reservoir. We plan to use the water for providing drinking water; not a drop of water will be used for irrigation,” Joshi, a member from Hubballi, said in the Lok Sabha.

Members of the Congress and the BJP were seen waving identical placards with slogans 'Mekedatu Dam: Karnataka's Right, Cauvery is Karnataka's Right'.

The unity of political rivals in Karnataka on the Mekedatu issue prompted AIADMK members to claim that the Congress had joined hands with the BJP in the state.

Amid the uproar, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley moved the supplementary demand for grants — the second batch for 2018-19 — and introduced a bill to further amend the Companies Act in the 20 minutes the House functioned before being adjourned till 2 pm.