Chennai: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami has categorically stated in the State Assembly that the state government would never accord permission for Karnataka’s proposal to construct a new dam at Mekedatu across river Cauvery.
Replying to DMK Deputy Leader Duraimurugan in the Assembly, he said the Supreme Court has given a clear verdict on the matter that the cauvery waters should not be either stopped or diverted.
He said the Karnataka government on three or four occasions brought the issue at the Cauvery Management Authority meeting, but due to stiff opposition by Tamilnadu it was rejected.
He said a case filed by Tamilnadu was also pending before the Supreme Court and that the court orders were in favour of Tamilnadu to uphold the State’s right on the issue.
Palaniswami had in his recent letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged him not to give the nod for Karnataka to goahead with the project.
The Court in its judgment has affirmed that Karnataka, being the “upper riparian State shall not take any action so as to affect the scheduled deliveries of water to the lower riparian States.”
However, the Karnataka government much to the consternation of the people of Tamilnadu has planned to construct a dam with a capacity of 67.16 TMC ft at Mekedatu.
Objecting to the CWC granting permission for Karnataka to prepare the DPR for the project, Palaniswami said the CWC’s action have caused deep anguish and apprehension in Tamilnadu, which would be denied its due share of water that has been given to the State by the Supreme Court after a protracted legal battle.
He had also urged the Prime Minister to direct the Karnataka Government not to take up any construction activities in the Cauvery basin without the prior consent of Tamilnadu.