In a mark of escalating tension between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the contentious dam project at Mekedatu, Irrigation Minister M.B. Patil announced on Friday that the State’s legal team was all set to fight the neighbour’s objections to the proposed project across the Cauvery.
The Minister’s announcement in the Legislative Council comes a day before the bandh called by Tamil Nadu farmers to oppose proposed project.
On Friday, Tamil Nadu Assembly adopted a unanimous resolution urging the Centre to rein in Karnataka from going ahead with its plan to build the dam.
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In the Karnataka Assembly, Janata Dal (S) member Y.S.V. Datta suggested that the House give a “fitting reply” by adopting a resolution that the State would implement the project.
The former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy demanded that the State focus on early completion of the project by pooling funds from various sources as it was “the only project with the potential to take care of the drinking water needs of the parched districts around Bengaluru city,” while referring to the acute shortage of drinking water in Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagaram, Kolar, and Chickballapur. Congress MLC V.S. Ugrappa echoed this demand in the Council.
Opposition Leader in the Council K.S. Eshwarappa said BJP legislators were willing to go in a delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and argue Karnataka’s case. He pointed out that the project only utilises surplus water, after releasing to Tamil Nadu its share.
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Replying to BJP MLC Ganesh Karnik during zero hour in the Council, Mr. Patil said the department had invited global expression of interest to prepare a detailed project report and some had responded to it.