Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Saturday sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention in the Mekedatu dam project, pointing to Karnataka’s “gross violation” of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final order.
Mr. Panneerselvam, who met Mr. Modi in New Delhi, handed over a letter highlighting Tamil Nadu’s position on the Mekedatu issue , observing that despite repeated requests from AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa, Karnataka was proceeding with the construction of dams. Mr. Panneerselvam noted that no action had been taken by the Centre to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to implement the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
The Mekedatu dam project — touted by the Karnataka government as an initiative aimed at improving water supply in the State — sparked a row between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over sharing water resources.
Opposing the project, Tamil Nadu has been consistently pressuring New Delhi to intervene in the matter. Last month, Members of Parliament from the State, cutting across party lines, met Mr. Modi to explain the State’s unanimous position on the issue.
In Saturday’s letter to the Prime Minister, Mr. Panneerselvam pointed to media reports that Karnataka was proceeding with the project in spite of opposition from Tamil Nadu. Mr. Panneerselvam also requested the Ministry of Water Resources to accede to Ms. Jayalalithaa’s “long-pending request” for the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee without any further delay.”
