Will address TN concerns on Mekedatu: Shivakumar

The state government is ready to discuss with Tamil Nadu on the Mekedatu project and will address the neighbouring state's concerns, Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar said on Wednesday.

Though Karnataka need not seek Tamil Nadu's consent for the project, the state wanted to have a friendly relationship with Tamil Nadu and was ready for discussion on the points raised by it, he told reporters here.

"We don't want to fight with the neighbouring state and build the project. We are ready to address their concerns. Our chief minister today called up the Tamil Nadu chief minister. I also called up the water resources minister of Tamil Nadu and sought a meeting on the issue," Shivakumar said.

He said Karnataka has not violated any order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court. The proposed Mekedatu project does not deplete the committed flow of water to Tamil Nadu.

"We are following the required procedures by approaching the CWC. We are not bound to take concurrence of Tamil Nadu in any manner. It is for the CWC to take a final call on the issue," he said.

The comments by Shivakumar come a day after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking his intervention to stop forthwith further processing of the feasibility report.

Karnataka has released 314.4 tmcft of water as on August 31 to Tamil Nadu from its inter-state Biligundlu dam against the stipulated annual delivery of 177.25 tmcft as per the Supreme Court judgement, he added.

The government will convene an all-party meeting soon to discuss the future course of action on Mahadayi water dispute, whether to approach Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunals or petition the Supreme Court seeking more water, the minister said.

The Tribunal recently ruled that Karnataka will get 13.4 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water from Mahadayi river, while Goa and Maharashtra will be allowed to use 24 tmc ft and 1.33 tmcft of water, respectively.