D K Shivakumar seeks TN’s cooperation for Mekedatu drinking water project as rains facilitate Cauvery water-sharing

“The balancing reservoir at Mekedatu will help Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka. The water stored in the Mekedatu reservoir helps us release water in a timely manner to Tamil Nadu. There are Kannadigas, Tamilians and Andhraites in Bengaluru and drinking water from the project will benefit all of them. I appeal to them to cooperate on this,” Shivakumar told reporters Tuesday.

“Like we held an all-party meet on Cauvery, Tamil Nadu too is holding an all-party meeting. They are entitled to do so and we don’t have an objection to it. But they should cooperate with us as it benefits them,” he said replying to a question on the all-party meet organised by Tamil Nadu.

“Rains have picked up in the state from Monday and the inflow into Cauvery basin reservoirs has increased. We are releasing 20,000 cusecs from Harangi reservoir. Rains have come to our rescue,” he added.

Shivakumar, the irrigation minister, said that the increase in rainfall in the Cauvery catchment areas had enabled the release of water sought by Tamil Nadu. “Of course, we will release water to Tamil Nadu. When water levels rise, we have to release water,” he said.

Estimated to cost Rs 9,000 crore, the Mekedatu project aims to construct a balancing reservoir at Ontigondlu in Karnataka’s Ramanagara district for water supply to Bengaluru.