Concerned over the Karnataka government’s decision to set apart Rs. 25 crore for the Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery, the Tamil Nadu government has decided to take up the issue with the Centre, expressing its strong reservations over the move.
A few days ago, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, while presenting the State budget for 2015-2016, stated that global expression of interest had been invited to prepare a detailed project report for the project, apart from providing the amount.
Recalling that Karnataka assured Tamil Nadu in November that it had no plans to proceed with the Mekedatu project on the Cauvery without informing the Supreme Court, sources here say that the neighbouring State government’s latest move amounts to going back on its word.
The Tamil Nadu government has been asking the Union Ministries of Water Resources and Environment and Forests to maintain status quo on the project and not to clear any proposal on Mekedatu without the concurrence of lower-riparian States such as Tamil Nadu. In January, one such letter was sent by the State. Another letter will be sent shortly, reiterating the position, the sources add.
Farmers’ plan
On Monday, representatives of a coordinating committee of all farmers’ organisations for the Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam districts was in Chennai, contacting political leaders directly and requesting participation in a conference of all parties to be held here on Saturday.
P. R. Pandian, chief of the committee, says the endeavour of the panel was to bring together all stakeholders and present a cohesive stand of the State on the issue.
