Bengaluru, May 26 (IANS). Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Tuesday welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to dismiss Tamil Nadu’s review petition against the Mekedatu project and called it good news for Karnataka.
Addressing the media at Karnataka Bhawan in New Delhi, Shivakumar said that the state government is grateful to the Supreme Court for this decision.
He further said that now the final decision on this project has to be taken by the Central Government. We are currently in the process of submitting the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR).
He said a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court has dismissed the review petition filed by Tamil Nadu regarding the Mekedatu project. This is good news for Karnataka. On behalf of the people of Karnataka, we express our gratitude to the Supreme Court.
Shivakumar said the Supreme Court had already issued clear directions in an order that Karnataka would have to release 177 TMC of water allocated to Tamil Nadu subject to prescribed conditions.
It is noteworthy that Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project remains a matter of dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The neighboring state is opposing the project due to concerns over sharing of Kaveri river water.
The Mekedatu controversy relates to the proposed balancing reservoir and drinking water project on the Kaveri river at Mekedatu near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border.
Karnataka argues that the project is necessary to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas as well as generate hydropower. The state says the project will not impact Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery waters and will comply with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal judgment and Supreme Court directions.
However, Tamil Nadu has strongly opposed the project, alleging that building the reservoir could reduce the water supply to its farmers in the Cauvery delta region. It has been argued that Karnataka cannot proceed with the project without the consent of the lower states and the necessary environmental clearance.
This dispute has led to repeated political and legal confrontations between the two states.
–IANS
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