Reiterating that the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project of the Karnataka government would be taken up for discussion at the meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on June 23, its Chairman Saumitra Kumar Haldar, on Friday asserted that the Authority cannot be forced to drop the discussion on the issue.
Talking to reporters after inspecting the Grand Anicut in Thanjavur district, Mr. Haldar said the Authority was an autonomous body and had the right to discuss any issue or issues relating to the Cauvery Basin.
When it was pointed out to him that there were objections to the proposal from the Tamil Nadu government and the farmers in Cauvery Basin in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Haldar contended that solution to such issues could be arrived only through discussion. Further, no one could force the Authority either to take up or drop discussions on issues relating to the Cauvery, he said.
