The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Cauvery Water Management Authority not to consider the detailed project report submitted by Karnataka for the Mekedatu dam project. It urged the Centre to decline permission for the project.
Waters Resources Minister Duraimurugan, who moved the resolution, accused the Karnataka government of not respecting the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, delivered on February 5, 2007. He said Karnataka was proposing to construct the dam unilaterally, without obtaining the consent of the co-basin States or the necessary clearances from the Centre, and that it was allocating funds for the project.
“It is not acceptable. Hence, the action of the Karnataka government is strongly condemned by the august House,” the resolution said. It also urged the Centre not to give technical, environmental and other clearances to Karnataka to construct the dam.
Pointing out that the Supreme Court had delivered its verdict in 2018 on the long-drawn Cauvery river water-sharing dispute, which was being implemented, Mr. Duraimurugan said the judgment was sensitive for the two States. “The Union government is requested to advise the Karnataka government not to take up the proposal of constructing a reservoir at Mekedatu or any other place in the Cauvery basin without getting the concurrence of the co-basin States and obtaining clearance from the Centre,” the resolution said.
It also vowed to support all the actions of the Tamil Nadu government to prevent Karnataka from constructing a dam at Mekedatu in the interest of the farmers of Tamil Nadu.
Before the resolution was adopted, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin asserted in the House that the Tamil Nadu government will prevent attempts by Karnataka to act against the directions of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the judgment of the Supreme Court.
“This government is determined to oppose the Union government in any attempts to allow the construction of the dam. This government will protect the rights of the State and its farmers. Let us all stay united and emerge successful,” Mr. Stalin said.
While expressing the AIADMK’s support for the resolution, Leader of the Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami questioned why the DMK, which was part of the erstwhile Congress-led government at the Centre, failed to find a solution to the issue.
Leader of the House and Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan said, “You [Mr. Palaniswami] were a Minister too, and you would be aware of the steps we took on this issue.”
Former Chief Minister and AIADMK Deputy Floor Leader O. Panneerselvam was not present in the House when the resolution was adopted.
Later, Speaker M. Appavu declared that the House had unanimously adopted the resolution.
