No nod for Mekedatu project without Cauvery panel approval: Centre

The Centre has given its assurance that Karnataka is not going to be allowed to hold out any building on the Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river till approvals are granted by the Central Water Commission (CWC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), based on members of an all get together delegation from Tamil Nadu who met Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday. However, Mr. Shekhawat declined their demand that the Centre withdraw it’s permission permitting Karnataka to arrange a Detailed Project Report (DPR) on the disputed dam.

CWC chairperson S.K. Haldar, who was current on the assembly, additionally confirmed that the project wouldn’t be allowed to proceed without CWMA approval, however mentioned no timeline might be given for the project proposal to be thought of by the Authority.

The 13-member delegation, which included representatives from the opposition AIADMK and the BJP’s TN unit as nicely, was led by DMK chief and State Water Resources Minister S. Duraimurugan.

The crew handed over a memorandum which famous that “the implementation of Mekedatu project would affect the interests of Tamil Nadu’s farming community. It is an attempt to impound the uncontrolled flows in violation of the Final Award delivered by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as affirmed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court.”

The delegation additionally submitted a replica of the resolutions adopted by an all get together assembly chaired by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on July 12.

Earlier this month, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa introduced plans to go ahead with the long-pending Mekedatu project, meant to cater to the consuming water wants of Bengaluru and its environs. Estimated to price ₹9,000 crore, the project envisages a 67 tmc ft capability dam simply 4 km from the TN border and a 400 MW hydropower plant.

“Mr. Shekhawat assured us that there is no possibility of Karnataka going forward on Mekedatu without CWMA approval. He said that is a non-negotiable prerequisite of the no objection certificate given by the Centre,” Mr. Duraimurugan informed The Puucho after the assembly. He added that delegates had raised issues about the truth that the CWMA has not had a full time chairperson for the final three years.

AIADMK chief and former Fisheries Minister D. Jayakumar mentioned the delegates vociferously questioned Mr. Shekhawat about his alleged statements in Bengaluru final week that Karnataka’s pursuits can be taken care of.

“He insisted that he had not given any such statements. He assured us that he would be impartial on this issue,” mentioned Mr. Jayakumar.

Congress consultant A. Gopanna expressed some unease with the truth that the Union Minister mentioned the DPR itself wouldn’t be cancelled.

“He said that ‘we have given a conditional approval for the DPR, but there is no need to worry as one of the conditions is the CWMA approval’,” Mr Gopanna mentioned, including that an environmental clearance has not been given both.

“What is significant is that all parties in Tamil Nadu have united on this issue for the first time and vowed to fight together for the farmers of the State,” he mentioned.