Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday unanimously passed a resolution condemning Karnataka’s “unilateral proposal” to construct the Mekedatu reservoir across the River Cauvery and urged the Union Government not to grant approval to the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project.
The resolution, moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, marks the first resolution passed by the Assembly since his government assumed office last month and is being viewed as a strong message on protecting Tamil Nadu’s interests in inter-state water disputes.
All political parties in the House, including the Congress, supported and voted in favour of the resolution.
Vijay sends strong political message
The choice of the Mekedatu issue for the first Assembly resolution of the new government is seen as significant, given the emotional and economic importance of the Cauvery river to farmers in Tamil Nadu.
By taking a firm stand against the project, Chief Minister Vijay sought to reassure farmers and the public that his government would not compromise on the state’s rights over Cauvery waters.
The move is also politically notable because the Congress government in Karnataka, which has been pushing for the project, is an ally of Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and its support is crucial to the administration.
Despite the political alliance, every party in the Assembly, including the Congress, backed the resolution.
Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar of the Congress described the proposed dam as “not just illegal but one that robs Tamil Nadu’s rights”.
Resolution urges Centre to reject DPR
In the resolution, the Assembly urged the Union Government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the proposed Mekedatu Dam Project.
“This August House urges the Union Government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the Mekedatu Dam Project proposed by the Government of Karnataka,” the resolution stated.
It further requested the Central Water Commission not to examine, process or approve the Detailed Project Report submitted by the Karnataka government.
The resolution also urged the Centre to advise Karnataka not to undertake the construction of any dam or new water storage project in the Cauvery basin without the concurrence of the other basin states and the approval of the Union Government.
Tamil Nadu cites tribunal and Supreme Court orders
Addressing the Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay said the proposed project violates the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) and the Supreme Court.
He asserted that no reservoir can be constructed across the Cauvery without obtaining the consent of all basin states.
The Tamil Nadu government maintains that the project could adversely affect the interests of farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, who depend heavily on the river for irrigation and agriculture.
The Cauvery issue remains one of the most sensitive and longstanding disputes between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Mekedatu project back in focus
The Mekedatu project has been a contentious issue between the two states for more than a decade.
Karnataka has consistently maintained that the proposed reservoir is intended to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas and will not adversely affect Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery waters.
The issue has once again come into the spotlight following the elevation of D.K. Shivakumar as Karnataka’s Chief Minister. The project has long been one of Shivakumar’s priorities, and he had previously undertaken a padayatra demanding its implementation.
The passing of the resolution also comes shortly after Shivakumar asserted that Tamil Nadu cannot oppose the Mekedatu reservoir project.
With both states reiterating their positions, the Mekedatu project is once again set to become a major flashpoint in the long-running Cauvery water dispute.