Vijay govt rejects Karnataka's Mekedatu claim, vows to block dam at all costs

Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand on Thursday rejected Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's assertion that the state did not need Tamil Nadu's permission to build the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery. Anand said the Tamil Nadu government would not permit the project under any circumstances.

Shivakumar's remarks came in response to a letter from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, opposing the Mekedatu project and seeking the Centre's intervention.

Shivakumar had said there was "no need for permission from anyone" and claimed that the Supreme Court had already allowed Karnataka to build the dam on the condition that it release 177 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu. He also claimed that the proposed reservoir would benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka.

Speaking to reporters at Tiruchirapalli airport, Anand said, "Under no circumstances will we allow that, and certainly, nothing will ever happen as he claims," according to news agency PTI.

DMK leader Duraimurugan said the Cauvery was an inter-state river and no state could independently build a new dam or store its water. "Not even a single bucket of water from the Cauvery can be withheld without Tamil Nadu's consent," he said.

Duraimurugan rejected Shivakumar's claim that the Supreme Court had permitted the construction of the dam, saying there was no binding legal ruling to that effect. The former water resources minister said a judge might have made a suggestion or observation, but that did not amount to permission from the court.

Responding to the claim that approval was conditional on Karnataka releasing 177 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu, Duraimurugan questioned whether Karnataka had properly complied with existing Supreme Court orders requiring monthly water releases.

He also said the project required approvals from the Central Water Commission, the Forest Department and the Environment Ministry. Previous attempts to secure central clearances had been rejected by forest and environment officials, he added.

Duraimurugan described Shivakumar's remarks as an "impossible feat" and said they were rhetoric driven by enthusiasm rather than a constructive plan.

Tamil Nadu has maintained that Karnataka cannot proceed with the Mekedatu dam without its consent, while its leaders have disputed claims that the Supreme Court has approved the project and pointed to the clearances it would require.- Ends