Tamil Nadu plea against new dams in Karnataka to come up in Supreme Court: PWD Minister

Public Works Department Minister Edappadi K Palaniswamy informed the Assembly on Wednesday that the state's petition pending in Supreme Court against construction of new dams across Cauvery river at Mekedatu in Karnataka is expected to be taken up by the apex court soon.

He said all legal steps would be taken to thwart new dams and establish the rights of Tamil Nadu.

After DMK deputy leader Durai Murugan raised the Mekedatu issue in the House urging government to organise an all-party meet and lead a delegation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter, he said, "The petitions related to the issue are pending in Supreme Court and it is expected that the court

will soon take them up for hearing."

Congress legislature party leader K Ramasamy demanded that all parties unitedly voice Tamil Nadu's concerns to the Centre.

The minister recalled that Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Modi, Central Water Resources department and Karnataka government in November 2014 against new dams in Mekedatu.

Since there was no reply to such letters, Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court on November 18, 2014 seeking status quo and a direction to Karnataka to withdraw its "Expression of Interest," inviting qualified firms for the Mekedatu dam works.

Following this Karnataka told the State government twice, first in November 2014 and later in March this year that it does not intend to construct new dams in Mekedatu without apprising Supreme Court vis-a-vis Tamil Nadu's plea in this regard.

Also, Jayalalithaa had in this June urged Modi to prevail on Karnataka not to proceed against new dams in Mekedatu.

He said, against such a background, media has reported that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah in his Independence Day address had said Rs 5,912 crore was estimated cost for building a dam in Mekedatu. Through the initiative, the Karnataka Chief Minister has said drinking water would be supplied and 400 MW power generated, he said.

"The government of Amma (Jayalalithaa) will take all legal steps to uphold the rights of Tamil Nadu if Karnataka intended to implement any project without the consent of Tamil Nadu and against final award of the Cauvery Tribunal," he said.