Karnataka needs no permission for Mekedatu reservoir, says DK Shivakumar
The Karnataka Chief Minister responded to Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay's request to the Prime Minister regarding the dam project.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asserted on Sunday that the state does not require permission to construct the Mekedatu reservoir across the Cauvery river. According to the Times of India, his remarks followed a letter from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which Vijay urged the Prime Minister to ensure Karnataka does not receive clearance without the consent of other basin states.
Shivakumar stated that the Supreme Court has already permitted Karnataka to build the dam on its own land. He noted that the court's condition requires the state to provide 177 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu. He described the project as a balancing reservoir that would ultimately provide more benefit to Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister said that Karnataka has already begun the process of identifying 5,400 hectares of forest land to satisfy environmental needs through compensatory afforestation. Once this process is complete, the state will approach the water commission for clearance.
Shivakumar appealed to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to send a team to ensure the water is not misused, stating that Karnataka stands by its word. He called for cooperation between the two states, saying the fighting days are over and both should respect the Supreme Court's verdict to share water and work together.