CWC gives in-principle nod to State to take up DPR for Mekedatu project
News

CWC gives in-principle nod to State to take up DPR for Mekedatu project

November 28, 2018

Bengaluru:  Locked in confrontation with Tamil Nadu over utilisation of Cauvery waters, Karnataka heaved a sigh of relief on Tuesday with the Central Water Commission (CWC) approving the Rs.5,912 crore Mekedatu Multi-purpose Project across the Cauvery that envisages supply of drinking water to Bengaluru and Ramanagaram districts, besides generation of power. The CWC has now asked the State Government in-principle to prepare and submit a Detailed Project Report (DPR).

While the project was conceived in 2013, the State Government decided to implement the project in Feb. 2017. The project involves building of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery with a storage capacity of 66 tmcft at Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagaram district.

The project will also have a provision to generate about 400 MW of power apart from meeting the drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Ramanagaram and other towns in the vicinity. The reservoir will store only excess water after release of Tamil Nadu’s share during copious rains, which otherwise will drain into Bay of Bengal.

Tamil Nadu’s objection

Soon as the CWC cleared Karnataka’s report on Mekedatu Project, Tamil Nadu has opposed it on the grounds that the project violates the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking to instruct the CWC to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka as it was in violation of the Cauvery Tribunal final award.

Claiming that the proposal for the reservoir was not just for drinking water but also to increase the extent of irrigation, which is in violation of the award, Palaniswami also contended that the project will deny Tamil Nadu of its share of water from Cauvery river.

READ ALSO  Karnataka awaiting Centre’s nod for Mekedatu Project

Reacting to TN’s objection, Karnataka Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar said that the project is meant for only drinking water purpose and there will not be any impact on the water to be released to Tamil Nadu.

ABOUT

Mysuru’s favorite and largest circulated English evening daily has kept the citizens of Mysuru informed and entertained since 1978. Over the past 45 years, Star of Mysore has been the newspaper that Mysureans reach for every evening to know about the happenings in Mysuru city. The newspaper has feature rich articles and dedicated pages targeted at readers across the demographic spectrum of Mysuru city. With a readership of over 2,50,000 Star of Mysore has been the best connection between it’s readers and their leaders; between advertisers and customers; between Mysuru and Mysureans.

CONTACT

Academy News Papers Private Limited, Publishers, Star of Mysore & Mysuru Mithra, 15-C, Industrial ‘A’ Layout, Bannimantap, Mysuru-570015. Phone no. – 0821 249 6520

To advertise on Star of Mysore, email us at

Online Edition: [email protected]
Print Editon: [email protected]
For News/Press Release: [email protected]