'Preparations on for dam at Mekedatu'

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said on Tuesday that all preparations are being made to construct a dam across River Cauvery at Mekedatu in order to save excess water.

Speaking to reporters during a private visit to the district here, Shivakumar said, "The water problem of Bengaluru city will be sorted out if a dam is constructed near Mekedatu. This will enable us to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the gudelines. The decision to construct a dam at Mekedatu was taken by the previous government. There is no question of backtracking."

In reply to a question about whether the Congress-JD(S) coalition government will fall after the Lok Sabha elections, he said, “KPCC president Dinesh Gundu Rao has been given the responsibility to answer such questions. I will not comment on this”.