Bengaluru, Jul 13 (PTI) Karnataka Chief Minister B S
Yediyurappa on Tuesday once again asserted that the state has
got every right to implement the Mekedatu project across
river Cauvery and will start the work, despite objections
from neighboring Tamil Nadu.
He held discussions with Union Jalshakti Minister
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and sought clearances from the
Centre for implementing Mekedatu and other irrigation
projects in the state.
“I don”t want to discuss Tamil Nadu or any other state.
We have got every right and we are going to start the work,”
Yediyurappa said in response to a question on Tamil Nadu”s
objection to the Mekedatu project.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the union
minister, he said detailed discussions took place regarding
the irrigation projects in the state including Mekedatu.
“Definitely in the coming days we are going to complete
all the projects and he (union minister) is going to help
from the Centre in all respects..
he has assured us to resolve all issues regarding
providing clearances from the Centre for the implementation
of the projects,” he added.
Discussions were regarding the gazette notification of
the Krishna tribunal award, Environment Ministry clearance
for Mekedatu project, Upper Krishna Project, Kalasa-Banduri
Nala Project, implementation of Yettinahole project, among
others.
State”s Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the CM has
appraised the Union Minister on the Mekedatu issue and urged
for the clearances, which are pending before the Government
of India.
“Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to
Central Water Commission (CWC) and it has been referred to
the Cauvery Monitoring Committee, the union minister is aware
of the whole issue and has promised to look into and give
justice to Karnataka,” he added.
Karnataka”s assertion comes a day after the all party
meeting called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin
condemned attempts by Karnataka to build the dam at Mekedatu
and urged the union government to not accord sanction for the
proposal.
Earlier in the day, pointing at the meeting between CM
and the union Minister, Karnataka Congress President D K
Shivakumar in a tweet said “..we hope that date of initiation
of Mekedatu Project will be finalised.
This project represents hope for Karnataka, and we
expect CM will leave no stone unturned to fulfil it!”
Yediyurappa had earlier written to Stalin urging him not to
oppose the Mekedatu project “in the right spirit” and offered
to hold a bilateral meeting to address any issues.
In response, Stalin had urged Yediyurappa not to pursue
the Mekedatu project, as he rejected Karnataka”s stand that
implementation of the project would not affect the interests
of Tamil Nadu farmers.
Karnataka has maintained that the project within its
territory will benefit both states as the surplus water
stored can be managed between the two during the distress
year, and its implementation will in no way affect the
interests of Tamil Nadu”s farming communities, as there will
be no impact on its share of water.
While the neighbouring state is of the view that the
project would “impound and divert” the uncontrolled water
flow due to Tamil Nadu from Kabini sub- basin, the catchment
area below Krishnarajasagara, and also from Simsha, Arkavathy
and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams.
Also, according to Tamil Nadu, as per the Supreme Court
verdict no construction across Cauvery should be taken up
without consulting the lower riparian states.
Mekedatu is a multipurpose (drinking and power) project,
which involves building a balancing reservoir, near
Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.
The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking
water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas (4.75 TMC) and also
can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost of the
project is Rs 9,000 crore. PTI KSU
ROH ROH
Yediyurappa on Tuesday once again asserted that the state has
got every right to implement the Mekedatu project across
river Cauvery and will start the work, despite objections
from neighboring Tamil Nadu.
He held discussions with Union Jalshakti Minister
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and sought clearances from the
Centre for implementing Mekedatu and other irrigation
projects in the state.
“I don”t want to discuss Tamil Nadu or any other state.
We have got every right and we are going to start the work,”
Yediyurappa said in response to a question on Tamil Nadu”s
objection to the Mekedatu project.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting with the union
minister, he said detailed discussions took place regarding
the irrigation projects in the state including Mekedatu.
“Definitely in the coming days we are going to complete
all the projects and he (union minister) is going to help
from the Centre in all respects..
he has assured us to resolve all issues regarding
providing clearances from the Centre for the implementation
of the projects,” he added.
Discussions were regarding the gazette notification of
the Krishna tribunal award, Environment Ministry clearance
for Mekedatu project, Upper Krishna Project, Kalasa-Banduri
Nala Project, implementation of Yettinahole project, among
others.
State”s Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai said the CM has
appraised the Union Minister on the Mekedatu issue and urged
for the clearances, which are pending before the Government
of India.
“Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been submitted to
Central Water Commission (CWC) and it has been referred to
the Cauvery Monitoring Committee, the union minister is aware
of the whole issue and has promised to look into and give
justice to Karnataka,” he added.
Karnataka”s assertion comes a day after the all party
meeting called by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin
condemned attempts by Karnataka to build the dam at Mekedatu
and urged the union government to not accord sanction for the
proposal.
Earlier in the day, pointing at the meeting between CM
and the union Minister, Karnataka Congress President D K
Shivakumar in a tweet said “..we hope that date of initiation
of Mekedatu Project will be finalised.
This project represents hope for Karnataka, and we
expect CM will leave no stone unturned to fulfil it!”
Yediyurappa had earlier written to Stalin urging him not to
oppose the Mekedatu project “in the right spirit” and offered
to hold a bilateral meeting to address any issues.
In response, Stalin had urged Yediyurappa not to pursue
the Mekedatu project, as he rejected Karnataka”s stand that
implementation of the project would not affect the interests
of Tamil Nadu farmers.
Karnataka has maintained that the project within its
territory will benefit both states as the surplus water
stored can be managed between the two during the distress
year, and its implementation will in no way affect the
interests of Tamil Nadu”s farming communities, as there will
be no impact on its share of water.
While the neighbouring state is of the view that the
project would “impound and divert” the uncontrolled water
flow due to Tamil Nadu from Kabini sub- basin, the catchment
area below Krishnarajasagara, and also from Simsha, Arkavathy
and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams.
Also, according to Tamil Nadu, as per the Supreme Court
verdict no construction across Cauvery should be taken up
without consulting the lower riparian states.
Mekedatu is a multipurpose (drinking and power) project,
which involves building a balancing reservoir, near
Kanakapura in Ramanagara district.
The project once completed is aimed at ensuring drinking
water to Bengaluru and neighboring areas (4.75 TMC) and also
can generate 400 MW power, and the estimated cost of the
project is Rs 9,000 crore. PTI KSU
ROH ROH
Disclaimer :- This story has not been edited by Outlook staff and is auto-generated from news agency feeds. Source: PTI
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