Chennai, July 16(BPNS)
The all-party delegation from Tamil Nadu has received assurance from the Union Jal Shakthi Minister, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat that the government of India has not given any sanction to the Karnataka government to build a dam at Mekedatu across the Cauvery river.
The Tamil Nadu water resources minister S.Duraimurugan who led the 13 member all-party delegation to meet the Jal Shakthi minister said that the Union minister has told the delegation that the question of Karnataka building a dam at Mekedatu does not arise as it has not fulfilled any of the prerequisites. Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, according to the Tamil Nadu minister, said that the prerequisites included getting the consent of the riparian states, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
The Union Minister also told the delegation that Karnataka has not taken the consent from the Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA) also which is also a prerequisite.
Duraimurugan while speaking to BPNS over telephone said, “We have conveyed the Union Minister our apprehensions regarding Karnataka preparing a Detailed Project Report(DPR) on the Mekedatu dam. We also effectively communicated our views regarding the dam.”
The Union minister told the delegation that Karnataka had prepared a DPR on its own and without fulfilling the prerequisites and that such a DPR would not be considered by the Union Jal Shakthi Ministry.
Duraimurugan also said that the Gajendra Singh Shekhawat had strongly denied reports that he had given consent to Karnataka to construct a dam at Mekedatu. The Tamil Nadu delegation was also apprised by the Union Minister that a new chairman was not appointed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority(CWMA) as proper profiles were not received even after calling advertisements.
Meanwhile the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, M.K.Stalin will be meeting the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi to convey him the strong protest of the people of Tamil Nadu against the construction of a dam at Meketadu. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister will also meet President Ramnath Kovind on July 19, according to a statement from the office of the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
