Tamil Nadu will never allow Karnataka’s move to build dam across Cauvery at Mekedatu: Duraimurugan

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday reiterated that it would never allow the Karnataka government’s Mekedatu dam plan across the river Cauvery near the inter-state border.
In an official statement, water resources minister S Duraimurugan said the government would consult legal counsels on this matter and take appropriate action. “The Tamil Nadu government will never allow the construction of Mekedatu dam planned by the Karnataka government across the river Cauvery,” the minister said.
The minister’s remarks came in the wake of the National Green Tribunal taking suo motu cognizance of a Times of India report published on April 15, alleging that some steps were being taken and materials had been collected near the proposed project area. The tribunal constituted a four-member committee of the Union environment ministry, Cauvery Water Management Authority, Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited and forest department of Karnataka government to inspect the area in question and submit a factual as well as action taken report, if there was any violation.
Duraimurugan said the state government had filed a petition in the Supreme Court in November 2018, seeking stay of the permission granted by the Central Water Commission to Karnataka government to go ahead with the preparation of detailed project report and the latter from proceeding further with the preparation of DPR.
“The Tamil Nadu government’s contempt petitions against the project appraisal directorate of Central Water Commission and the secretary of Karnataka water resources department in December 2018 are pending in the Supreme Court,” Duraimurugan said.
In its 25th meeting in July 2019, an expert appraisal committee for river valley and hydroelectric projects of the Union environment ministry did not grant terms of reference to Karnataka government’s project, after objections from Tamil Nadu government.
The agenda was also not taken up for discussion during the three meetings of the Cauvery Water Management Authority after the Tamil Nadu government objected, Duraimurugan said.