"Violation of not only SC's judgment but also of existing environmental laws": TN CM Vijay writes to PM Modi, demands rejection of Karnataka's Mekedatu project

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], May 26 (ANI): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene and stop Karnataka from proceeding with the proposed Mekedatu Reservoir Project across the Cauvery River, alleging that the move violates Supreme Court orders and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award.

In a detailed letter addressed to the Prime Minister, the Chief Minister expressed deep concern over Karnataka's announcement of a "Bhoomi Puja" for the Mekedatu project. He stated that the development has created widespread anxiety among farmers in Tamil Nadu who depend on the Cauvery waters for agriculture and livelihood.
The Tamil Nadu government argued that the Mekedatu project was never approved under the CWDT Final Award, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court in its landmark judgment dated February 16, 2018. The letter stressed that the Cauvery basin is already categorised as a water-deficient basin and that the available water has been fully allocated among the riparian States.
"You may be well aware that a solution to the sensitive Cauvery water dispute was obtained after a long legal battle, lasting about three decades, and the Judgment dated February 16, 2018, is under implementation. Mekedatu Project is not in the list of projects permitted by the Tribunal, which has been affirmed by the above-mentioned Judgment. There is no scope for additional utilization or for creating a new huge storage reservoir, since the Cauvery basin is found to be a deficit basin and the available water at 50 per cent dependability has already been allocated to the party States. Therefore, planning any new project across Cauvery or its tributaries, other than those specifically permitted by the Tribunal in its Final Award as affirmed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court in its Judgment, would tantamount to interfering with the said Judgment," Vijay said in his letter.
According to the Chief Minister, Karnataka's proposal to build a massive reservoir with a storage capacity of 67.16 TMC near the Tamil Nadu border could obstruct the natural flow of water that Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive under the Tribunal's award and the Supreme Court verdict.
The letter further highlighted that the Supreme Court had clearly ruled that upper riparian States must not undertake actions that affect the scheduled water deliveries to lower riparian States. In this context, Tamil Nadu alleged that Karnataka's attempt to construct the reservoir amounts to a direct violation of the Court's judgment.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) had earlier declined to grant Terms of Reference (ToR) for an Environmental Impact Assessment due to unresolved inter-State disputes surrounding the project.
Criticising the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission (CWC), the Tamil Nadu government questioned why Karnataka's proposal was still being entertained despite strong objections from Tamil Nadu.
"Under this circumstance, I request you to instruct the concerned officers in the Ministry of Jal Shakti, as well in the Central Water Commission (CWC) to reject the DPR of Mekedatu project proposal, as it is in contravention to the Final Award of CWDT dated February 5, 2007, and the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India and also advise the Government of Karnataka not to take up any new project without getting the concurrence of co-basin States and not to violate the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court in totality," Vijay further affirmed.
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Keralam and Puducherry have a long-standing dispute over the Cauvery River water, with the proposed Mekedatu dam being a new chapter in the conflict between the two bordering states. (ANI)