Mekedatu Dam: TN objects to K'taka plan for dam across Cauvery

Bengaluru: The Tamil Nadu Government on Wednesday objected to a Central committee’s decision to discuss Karnataka’s proposal to construct a dam across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, saying it is “clear violation” of the final order of a disputes tribunal and the Supreme Court.

The objection by the state government comes ahead of the July 19 meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects.

Chief Minister K Palaniswami opposed the committee for including Karnataka’s proposal for grant of fresh terms of reference to the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project in its meeting.

The committee comes under the Environment, Forest and Climate Change Ministry.

In identical letters to Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Palaniswami pointed out that he had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter. He said he had then sought Modi’s intervention for denying permission to Karnataka’s proposal for grant of terms of reference for environmental clearance for the project.

Palaniswami said it was brought to his notice that the committee has included Karnataka’s proposal for grant of fresh terms of reference to the project in its meeting scheduled on July 19. “The action of the committee to include the proposal of Karnataka for discussion in the meeting is a violation of the Notified Final Order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the judgment of the Supreme Court,” he said.