Mekedatu Project Will Solve Cauvery Water Sharing Dispute: DK Shivakumar

BENGALURU:The construction of a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu in Ramnagar district is the only solution to deal with the River Cauvery sharing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, observed Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar.

It may be recalled here that the Karnataka government has proposed for the construction of a balancing reservoir across River Cauvery at Mekedatu to store excess water and utilise it to supply water to Bengaluru city, Ramnagar and adjoining areas. “By having a balancing reservoir, we could release water to Tamil Nadu,” said the Deputy Chief Minister in Bengaluru on Monday at a press conference.

“It is unfortunate that Tamil Nadu government has went in an appeal to Supreme Court to get Cauvery water released despite aware of the prevailing conditions of poor inflow to the reservoirs (in Cauvery basin of Karnataka),” said Shivakumar and stated that Tamil Nadu government is also well aware of the distress sharing formula on River Cauvery water.

The Deputy Chief Minister said there was direction to release from the Supreme Court to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till August 31 and said that the State Government has released adequate water to Tamil Nadu but “not as they demanded.”

“We need about 124 tmc feet of water to meet our water requirements and out of which 80 tmc feet of water is solely needed for irrigation purposes. As of now, only 55 tmc feet of water is available in the reservoirs in Cauvery basin,” he said and added that Bengaluru city alone needs 24 tmc feet of water for drinking water, Mysuru and other districts need about 20 tmc feet of water.

Shivakumar said, all-party meeting on Wednesday would be attended by the Chief Minister, former Chief Ministers, floor leaders of the Assembly and Lok Sabha members where inter-State water disputes would be discussed and decide on the future course of action.

Inter-State water disputes such as River Cauvery water sharing and Mahadayi diversion would come up for discussion at the all party meet, he said and stated that “If all party meet decides on taking a delegation to the Union Government on inter-State water disputes, then, the suggestion would be considered.” He said some obstacles have come in the way of Mahadayi diversion and all party leaders would also discuss the matter.

Over the Janata Dal Secular and Bharatiya Janata Party criticism over water release to Tamil Nadu, Shivakumar said, “Both the parties have been politicising the issue. Let them do” and stated that he would not give reply to the criticism of JDS and BJP leaders but having the onus of protecting the interests of the farmers and uphold the image of the State.