Bengaluru: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who is also the Major and Medium Irrigation Minister, has appealed Tamil Nadu  Government to cooperate in Karnataka’s ambitious Mekedatu drinking water project. “Tamil Nadu need not fear the project. The water will be used only to provide drinking water to the people of the region,” said Shivakumar while speaking to the media here yesterday.

Clarifying that Karnataka has no hatred towards Tamil Nadu, the Dy.CM said that people of Tamil Nadu are our brothers and we have no ill-will towards anybody. “The Mekedatu project is also in the interest of Tamil Nadu. Through the project, we propose to prevent the water reaching the sea and use it for the benefit of the people of Cauvery region. The control of Dams in the Cauvery region now lies with the Union Government. It will decide the quantum of water to be released and also the timing,” he said.

 “Karnataka produces power from stored water and releases the stored water to TN and its farmers can use the same for agriculture purposes. Though our Government builds the Dam, the water will be used only to produce power and provide drinking water to the people of the region,” he added.

“The Karnataka Government has brought the issue of Mekedatu project to the notice of the Union Government and also to the Court. A DPR was prepared and approval of State Cabinet was taken during my previous tenure as the Minister of Water Resources. The project was estimated to cost about Rs.5,400 crore then,” said Shivakumar.

Accusing the previous BJP Government of putting the project in cold storage, the Dy.CM charged that the BJP did nothing except announcing an allocation of Rs.1,000 crore for the project following the padayatra organised by the Congress party, demanding the implementation of the project.