NE NEWS SERVICE
BENGALURU, JULY 12
Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday reaffirmed that the state will not stop the Mekedatu drinking water project across Cauvery river, which is opposed by neighbouring Tamil Nadu. The opposition Congress in the State said it would stand with the government if it performs the groundbreaking ceremony.
“We have already submitted the Detailed Project Report to the Central Water Commission. This project is related to utilising the additional water for drinking purpose. Karnataka has every right to commission this project,” Bommai said in a statement.
“There is no reason to stop the Mekedatu drinking water project. We will certainly implement it,” he added.
According to Bommai, already an order related to the Cauvery water sharing has come, which has given guidelines on how and when the Cauvery water should be released for Tamil Nadu.
ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿಗಳು ನಾಳೆಯೇ ಟೆಂಡರ್ ಕರೆದು ಗುದ್ದಲಿ ಪೂಜೆ ಮಾಡಲಿ, ನಾವು ಅವರ ಜೊತೆ ನಿಲ್ಲುತ್ತೇವೆ.
ಯೋಜನೆ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿರುವವರು ನಾವು, ಸರ್ವಪಕ್ಷ ನಿಯೋಗ ಕೊಂಡೊಯ್ಯುವ ಅಗತ್ಯ ನಮಗಿಲ್ಲ.
ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿನವರು ಏನಾದರೂ ಮಾಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳಲಿ. ಇದರಲ್ಲಿ ನಾವು ಒತ್ತಡ ಹೇರುವ ಅವಶ್ಯಕತೆ ಏನಿದೆ? ಯೋಜನೆ ಅನುಷ್ಠಾನಕ್ಕೆ ತರಬೇಕು ಅಷ್ಟೇ.
– @DKShivakumar pic.twitter.com/cFrz9KErnV— Karnataka Congress (@INCKarnataka) July 12, 2021
Congress Karnataka unit president D K Shivakumar extended his support to the Mekedatu project.
“Let the government do the ”Bhumi Puja” for Mekedatu project tomorrow itself, we stand with the government,” Shivakumar said in a statement.
Stating that Tamil Nadu will keep on creating controversies with regard to Mekedatu even after 100 years, Shivakumar wondered why the BJP government was not using its status of “double engine government” at the Centre and the state to finish the project.
He even promised to keep aside all political issues and stand with the government.
Shivakumar said “All political parties of Tamil Nadu have a common agenda of opposing the Mekedatu project. Their agenda will remain same even after 100 years.”
“Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa needs political will power to take up the Mekedatu project,” the state Congress chief said.
“It’s our money, our place and our water. Tamil nadu has no say on this,” he added.
Stating that Mekedatu project comes under Kanakapura assembly constituency, which he represents, Shivakumar said the water will be used for Bengaluru and for electricity generation.
TN vows to prevent Karnataka from constructing dam: Durai Murugan
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Minister for Water Resources Durai Murugan on Monday night in a statement assured that the Tamil Nadu government would prevent Karnataka from constructing the Mekedatu reservoir.
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In a press statement, the minister stated that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had said his government would legally execute the construction of the Mekedatu reservoir on Cauvery river.
He recalled the letter of Chief Minister MK Stalin, who wrote to Yediyurappa that Karnataka should drop the Mekedatu project since it would affect the farmers of Tamil Nadu who cultivate Samba and Kuruvai crops over lakhs of acres depending on Cauvery water.
He further assured that to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers, the government will vehemently oppose any attempt of the Karnataka government to construct a reservoir at Mekedatu or at any other place and will take legal efforts to stop it.
