State to discuss Mekedatu at former CMs’ meet

Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday said the Mekedatu project will be discussed during a meeting of the state’s former chief ministers and water resources minister on December 6.

The Central Water Commission (CWC) on Tuesday cleared the pre-feasibility report of the Mekedatu project with certain conditions. This means the Karnataka government can go ahead with the preparation of the detailed project report.

The government, during an all-party meeting chaired by Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy recently, had decided to hold such a meeting to discuss the state’s water disputes and the irrigation projects.

Welcoming the CWC move to accord clearance to the Mekedatu project, BJP state president B S Yeddyurappa said that the nod had come as a “big relief” for the people of Karnataka. Yeddyurappa said that people from hundreds of villages located in the water-starved Kolar and Bengaluru districts, who have no water sources, will heave a sigh of relief as the project will meet their drinking water needs.

“The state government, without giving any more reasons, should now go ahead with the project work, including preparation and submission of the detailed project report, in addition to starting the construction works. Now, the State government should consider this as a special case and allocate funds on a priority basis to complete the project in a time-bound manner,” he said.

Notwithstanding the protest registered by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Tuesday, asserted that the state government will go ahead with the Mekedatu reservoir project.

“Let there be no worry. Mekedatu has to happen. For this, the State government will work under the framework of law, make ourselves heard to the Centre and do what is required to implement the project,” he said.

DH News Service