BENGALURU: Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Sunday, in a tit-for-tat move, shot back a letter to chief minister BS Yediyurappa “urging” Karnataka to drop the controversial Mekedatu balancing reservoir project along Cauvery river.
Stalin said: “The comparison of that (Mekedatu) project intending to store 67.1 TMC of water with the two hydro power projects of TN would not be correct. There is no consumption of water in these hydro power projects with the available water being just re-circulated by pumping to meet the peak power demand…”
Yediyurappa in his letter had referred to the Kundah and Sillahalla Pumped Storage hydro-electric projects.
Stalin added drawing of water from the river for drinking purposes for Bengaluru, though being permitted by the courts, which has been cited by the state for constructing the Mekedatu reservoir “does not sound valid”.
Beneficial for both: Bommai
Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, law and parliamentary affairs minister Basavaraj Bommai said Tamil Nadu had a habit of disputing anything related to Cauvery river water sharing and it's a continuation of the same with the Mekedatu project. “The government headed by Stalin wants to create some ripples to make its presence felt in Tamil Nadu, so it has resorted to this political adventure. We’ll fight it out since we are legally right in our position,” Bommai said.
He said TN’s objection is unwarranted since the project will be beneficial to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as the building of the balancing reservoir is aimed at utilising the excess waters of Cauvery.
“There is no reservoir except KRS to store water that can be utilised when there is shortage of rain and the Mekedatu project will be helpful in providing drinking water to Karnataka while ensuring excess water to Tamil Nadu during distress. Despite knowing this is the win-win proposition, the Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court against the project,” he added.
