Deve Gowda does a reality check at Mekedatu

“No logic in TN’s objection to the proposed project”

Janata Dal (S) chief H.D. Deve Gowda at Mekedatu near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district on Sunday.

As the controversy over the State’s plans to construct a dam over Cauvery river at Mekedatu gathers political heat, the former Prime Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) supremo H.D. Deve Gowda visited the site on Sunday.

He told reporters that there was “no logic” in Tamil Nadu’s objection to the proposed project to supply drinking to Bengaluru and Ramanagaram. “There is a need to raise the issue in the Lok Sabha in the ongoing session. I am here for a reality check,” he said.

Mr. Deve Gowda said the State had been releasing waters to Tamil Nadu as per the order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.

“Hence, we have the right to construct the reservoir and to utilise our share of waters,” he said. “The project will utilise water that flows into the sea and Tamil Nadu need not be apprehensive.”

The State government should go ahead with its plan on a war footing, he said while describing the resolution unanimously adopted at the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday as “politically motivated”.

‘Decision as per law’

Meanwhile in Bengaluru, Union Law Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda assured people of Karnataka that the State’s interests would be protected with respect to sharing of Cauvery river waters and any decision would be taken as per law.

Participating at a programme in the city on Sunday, Mr. Sadananda Gowda said that the State MPs had appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take them and the Union Ministers from the State into confidence before making a decision on the Cauvery issue.