Don’t clear Mekadatu dam, Stalin writes to PM

CHENNAI: DMK president MK Stalin on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him not to approve the Detailed Project Report (DPR) nor allow the construction of Mekadatu reservoir proposed by Karnataka government.

Expressing disappointment over the Karnataka Chief Minister demanding early approvals and clearances for Mekadatu reservoir among the irrigation and drinking water project despite Tamil Nadu’s strong opposition during his meeting with Modi, Stalin requested the PM to “instruct the concerned Central Ministries neither to give approval for the DPR nor for the construction of Mekedatu Reservoir as proposed by the Karnataka and as demanded by the Chief Minister of Karnataka — which would be against the interest of both the farmers and the people of Tamil Nadu.”

The proposed Mekedatu Reservoir was in “total violation of the final order of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated February 5, 2007 as well as the Judgment of the Supreme Court of India dated February 16, 2018 and is completely detrimental to the interest of the farmers and drinking water needs of common people,” said Stalin, in his letter to the PM.

Drawing the PM’s attention to consistent and persistent opposition of farmers and people of TN to construction of Mekedatu Reservoir across Cauvery in Karnataka, the DMK president referred to the unanimous resolutions passed in TN Legislative Assembly disapproving the reservoir project against all the norms of the inter-state river.,

He further said the proposed Mekedatu reservoir, under the guise of drinking water purpose, would irreparably and irreversibly affect the flow of water from river Cauvery to the lower riparian States- particularly Tamil Nadu and also threatens the very existence of many combined water supply schemes catering to the needs of lakhs of people.

“Very importantly, it would drastically disturb and affect the distribution of water to Tamil Nadu as per the allocation of water in the final order notified in the Gazette,” Stalin who is also Leader of Opposition said, adding that the reservoir proposal was sub judice as the civil appeal filed by Tamil Nadu seeking restraint order on the above said proposal was also pending before the SC.