Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay may travel to New Delhi on November 16 to discuss Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The anticipated meeting comes as disagreements between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery River project continue to deepen.
The development follows Vijay’s November 7 communication to the Prime Minister, in which he outlined the possible consequences of the proposed dam for Tamil Nadu. He also appealed to the Centre to withhold approval unless the state government agreed to the project.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar defended his government’s proposal, arguing that Karnataka does not need another state’s approval to construct a dam within its boundaries.
Speaking to journalists in Bengaluru, he cited a Supreme Court ruling that, according to him, allows Karnataka to pursue the project while fulfilling its water-sharing commitments.
He reaffirmed the state’s obligation to release 177 tmc of water annually to Tamil Nadu.
Shivakumar also presented the proposed reservoir as a potential solution for storing water during drought conditions.
He added that the government had identified another 5,400 hectares to compensate for the forest area required for the project.
He called for dialogue between the two states and invited Vijay to send representatives to Karnataka to assess the project.
Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand dismissed Karnataka’s claims and reiterated that his government would resist the proposed dam.
The controversy gained momentum during PM Modi’s recent visit to Karnataka, when Shivakumar appealed to the Centre to support the project. He also sought the required environmental and forest permissions.
Vijay’s expected meeting with PM Modi could provide Tamil Nadu an opportunity to present its objections at the highest level.
The discussions are likely to address the proposed construction, concerns over the state’s Cauvery water supply and the Centre’s position on the project.
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