Chennai: On a day when Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said his government would go ahead with the plan to construct dam at Mekedatu, Tamilnadu continued to push for its rights.
An all party delegation led by Tamilnadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan met Union Jal Shakthi Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and urged him not to grant any nod for Karnataka for construction of a new dam at Mekedatu across River Cauvery.
Later, talking to reporters after a 45-minute meeting, Duraimurugan said the Minister informed him that there was no feasibility report with Karnataka for construction of a dam.
The Minister also said that there was no consent from the lower riparian state and the nod from the Cauvery Water Management Board was a must and it was not given, Duraimurugan said, adding, “we categorically informed the Union Minister that the Centre should not accord any permission for the project”.
He also said the Centre has given conditional nod for preparing the Detailed Project Report and that could not be construed as grant of full permission for the project.
“Since Karnataka has not fulfilled the condition, there was no question of accepting the DPR and hence the construction of dam does not arise,” he added.
The delegation also handed over a copy of the resolution adopted at the meeting of all legislature parties here on 12 July urging the Union government not to accord any permission for Karnataka for constructing the dam as it would affect water supply for irrigation by farmers.
The all party meeting, chaired by Chief Minister M K Stalin had unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union government not to accord any permission to Karnataka to construct the dam at Mekedatu.
It said no construction activity must be allowed at Mekedatu without permission from the lower riparain States as per the orders of the Supreme Court.
All the parties, including the BJP–an ally of the AIADMK–backed the ruling DMK’s efforts to prevent Karnataka from building a dam at Mekedatu.
Both Tamilnadu and Karnataka are at loggerheads over the dam row, with the former stoutly opposing it and the latter being adamant on going ahead with the proposal.
Yeddyurappa also unilaterally asserted that none could stop the dam construction and that it would go ahead with the proposal.
It may be recalled that Stalin met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi last month and expressed TN’s opposition to the dam proposal after which Duraimurugan met the Jal Shakthi Minister and also got an assurance that the Centre would not accord any nod for Karnataka without the consent of Tamilnadu.
In the meantime, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa wrote a letter to Stalin urging him not to oppose the dam project and also sought his cooperation.
However, a determined Stalin, refused to budge and urged his Karnataka counterpart not to pursue the project and accused the neighbouring State of cheating Tamilnadu.
He said Karnataka was constructing the dam under the guise of storing more water for drinking water needs of Bengaluru city. But in reality, the new dam would prevent flow of water to Tamilnadu affecting the farmers.