TN CM reviews Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam plan, orders legal action

C Joseph Vijay chaired a review meeting on Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river, directing expedited legal measures to protect Tamil Nadu’s water rights and farmers’ interests following recent court developments and Karnataka’s groundbreaking ceremony announcement

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday held a review meeting over Karnataka’s proposal to construct a dam on river Cauvery in Mekedatu in that state, a project to which TN is opposed to.

The meeting was held in the wake of the “Bhumi puja” (groundbreaking ceremony) for the project being planned, an official release said. “The detailed review meeting was held to establish Tamil Nadu’s rights and safeguard farmers’ interests,” it said.

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The cases pertaining to the issue were discussed, with the Supreme Court last dismissing Tamil Nadu’s review petition against an earlier ruling that only Central experts can decide on the SC’s legal purview, it said.

“The chief minister directed expediting legal steps after detailed consultations, keeping in mind the aforesaid court ruling,” the release added. Karnataka plans to construct a balancing reservoir on the river Cauvery at Mekedatu to meet the twin objectives of drinking water requirements and power generation.

Tamil Nadu, a lower-riparian state, has been insisting that it would be affected if the project were to take shape. Cabinet ministers–N Anand, Adhav Arjuna and R Nirmalkumar, besides Advocate General Vijay Narayan, participated in the meeting.