Centre should not support Karnataka's dam plan: Tamil Nadu delegation

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu water resources minister S Duraimurugan on Friday quoted Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat as saying that Karnataka government cannot build Mekedatu dam since it had not fulfilled the rules for preparation of detailed project report.
Duraimurugan was speaking to reporters in Tamil Nadu House, after leading a delegation of Tamil Nadu legislature parties to convey to Shekhawat the opposition of the state against Mekedatu dam. Before his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chief minister B S Yediyurappa said he would discuss developmental issues pertaining to Karnataka including the Mekedatu project.
"Implementation of the Mekedatu project will not hurt the interest of Tamil Nadu. I tried to convince the same through a letter to TN CM. But somehow, they are not convinced. We will continue with the project," he replied to a question on TN's opposition to the Mekedatu project.
For his part, Duraimurugan said, "The Jal Shakti minister said Karnataka cannot build the dam. The reason is that the Karnataka government has not fulfilled any of the rules laid down for preparation of a detailed project report. The state has to get the consent of riparian states, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, and that of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Central Water Commission for the Centre to permit the implementation of DPR."