Amid the increasing tensions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments over the controversial Mekedatu dam project, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday said the Central government will have to give clearance to the project “as per law”.
His comments came after political parties in Tamil Nadu wrote to the Centre urging it not to grant permission to the Mekedatu project, which Karnataka has been seeking for a long time now.
While speaking to media, Basavaraj Bommai said, “The government of India has to consider Karnataka’s request as per law. As per the Cauvery Tribunal order, already a Cauvery Tribunal Board is in place which monitors the whole thing, hence everything is settled…There is no reason for the govt of Karnataka to stop this project.”
“We will go ahead with this project, we are 100 per cent committed to this project. We will put all our might to get all the clearances and I am quite confident that Govt of India will give justice to Karnataka,” he added
The Karnataka Home Minister went on to say that Tamil Nadu has filed a miscellaneous application in the Supreme Court and that top court hasn’t issued any prohibition.
“Karnataka has the right to do the project and safeguard people’s interest as drinking water is the main component,” he said on Tamil Nadu all-party meet resolution over Mekedatu project.
Earlier in the day, political parties in Tamil Nadu submitted the resolutions passed at their meeting to the Centre and condemned the Karnataka govt’s steps to build the dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu.
The meeting urged the Central government not to give any permission to the Karnataka government for the project as it would affect availability of water for irrigation to Tamil Nadu farmers.
They also resolved to take all legal actions including the pending case in the Supreme Court of India.
It should be noted that Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had written to MK Stalin requesting Tamil Nadu not to oppose the dam project.
In his reply to that letter, TN CM Stalin had told Yediyurappa that the dam would affect the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers and is also against the Supreme Court order.
