BENGALURU: The Karnataka legislature will pass a resolution on Wednesday to counter the Tamil Nadu government's stand on the Mekedatu drinking water-cum-power generation project.
Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai told the assembly on Tuesday that the government will pilot a resolution asserting that Karnataka has every right to implement the project and it will take up the project "come what may".
This comes a day after Tamil Nadu assembly unanimously passed a resolution "condemning" the Karnataka government for its "unilateral decision" to construct the dam across river Cauvery. TN has urged the Centre not to give any clearance for the project.
Tamil Nadu, through its resolution, urged the Union government not to give technical, environmental or any other clearance required for the project and said it would take legal action to protect the interests of the state and welfare of its farmers.
Bommai said, "The TN resolution is anti-constitutional and not in accordance with the law. It is a project being built on our land with our share of water and money. It will neither cause harm to Tamil Nadu nor dishonour the tribunal award. We will consult legal experts on the content of the resolution and we will place it before the house on Wednesday."
The CM said the government will make efforts to get approval for the detailed project report and environment clearance from the Centre. He said Tamil Nadu should be thankful to Karnataka as the latter, along with Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, has agreed to provide 15tmcft of drinking water to Chennai under the Telugu-Ganga scheme.
Leaders across party lines condemned the Tamil Nadu resolution and urged the Bommai government to pass a resolution in the assembly making Karnataka's stand clear and pressure the Centre to give necessary clearances.
During zero hour, former water resources minister and Congress MLA HK Patil urged the government to adopt a resolution opposing Tamil Nadu's stand on the issue. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said, "TN has no right to pass such a resolution. They have done it for political reasons."
Former chief minister BS Yediyurappa accused Tamil Nadu of placing hurdles in the project. "We're not seeking the Centre's cooperation for any illegal work. It is our right."
Former CM HD Kumaraswamy said TN's resolution has no relevance. The state is in a favourable situation both technically and legally as far as the Mekedatu project is concerned.
In his reply to the debate, Bommai said Tamil Nadu is planning projects without allocation of water for them, and it will be mentioned in the state's resolution after obtaining technical details. He said, "The resolution is illegal, infringes upon our right and against the federal system. We plan to utilise the state's share of water within our territory and there will be no injury to Tamil Nadu because of the project."
