Mekedatu issue: If Karnataka has right to build dam, we’ve right to halt project legally, says TN minister

He further said, “Karnataka’s detailed project report was with the Central Water Commission. The government of India has to consider Karnataka’s request as per the law.”

In reply, Murugan said the Supreme Court has provided clear directives on the quantity of water to be supplied to Tamil Nadu. Under these circumstances, the Karnataka government announcing that they will construct a dam blocking the path of the water flowing towards Tamil Nadu is ignoring the top court’s verdict.

Further, Murugan said he wonders if the Karnataka minister had come across the verdicts of the Cauvery Tribunal and the Supreme Court which states that a state cannot claim ownership over a river as it is a national assert.

“This a democratic country. It’s not right on the Centre’s part to remain a spectator when such tendencies are growing in Karnataka. It’s not good for a healthy relationship between neighbouring states,” the Tamil Nadu Minister added.

On Tuesday, in several districts of Tamil Nadu, farmers staged protests against Karnataka government’s decision to go ahead with the Mekedatu project. Organisations like the Cauvery Urimai Meetpu Kuzhu, carried banners and raised slogans in Thanjavur condemning Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa. As many as 40 people were arrested for their involvement in burning effigies of the Karnataka CM.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Congress president D K Shivakumar on Tuesday tweeted, “Today, as Union Minister of Jal Shakti Sri @GSSJodhpur will be conducting a meeting with CM Sri @BSYBJP, we hope that the date of initiation of the Mekedatu Project will be finalised. This project represents hope for Karnataka, and we expect the CM will leave no stone unturned to fulfil it!”

Congress in the state has been supporting the project and Shivakumar had earlier said, “Let the government perform the ‘bhumi puja’ for the Mekedatu project tomorrow itself, we stand with the government. I promise to keep aside all political issues and stand with the government.”