'Would impound flow of Cauvery to TN': Stalin responds to Yediyurappa on Mekedatu project

In regards to the Mekedatu project, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu MK Stalin on Sunday wrote back to his counterpart in Karnataka BS Yediyurappa, requesting him to not  pursue it as it would 'would impound and divert the first component of uncontrolled flows of the Cauvery river into Tamil Nadu'. 

"The proposed Mekedatu project would impound and divert the first component of uncontrolled flows due to Tamil Nadu, which is the flows coming into the river Cauvery from the uncontrolled catchment of Kabini sub-basin downstream of Kabini reservoir, the catchment of the mainstream of Cauvery river below Krishnarajasahara, uncontrolled flows from Simsha, Arkavathy and Suvernavathy sub-basins and various other small streams," Stalin wrote in a letter to Yediyurappa.

Yediyurappa writes to Stalin 

On Saturday, Yediyurappa had written to Stalin in relation to the Mekedatu project. Guaranteeing that the project, which aims to provide drinking water to Karnataka will not adversely affect the farming communities of Tamil Nadu, he had asserted that it will in fact be beneficial for both the states. 

Explaining the aim and objective of the project, he had written in the letter, "The Mekedatu balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project is contemplated with an objective to regulate the flow of water to Tamil Nadu, so as to generate 400 MW of power and to additionally utilize 4.75 tmc of water for meeting drinking and domestic water needs."

Having said that, he had outlined that not taking into consideration, the Tamil Nadu government has already filed a Miscellaneous Application before the Hon'ble Supreme Court, against the said project. He had also mentioned that in the meanwhile, the Government of Karnataka has also filed a necessary application before the Government of India, seeking approval for Terms of Reference (ToR) to conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies. 

Further, he had reminded that Tamil Nadu had not entered into any kind of negotiations nor secured consent from the Government of Karnataka for two of its own planned two Hydro-Power Projects - the Kundah pumped storage Hydro-Electric Project and the Sillahalla pumped storage Hydro-Electric Project in Bhavani sub-basin of Cauvery basin, he asserted that it would be the best interest of both the states if the project is allowed to pass without any obstruction. 

"In order to address issues, if any, it is suggested that a bilateral meeting could also be held in the presence of concerned officials to clear all apprehensions," he had said.

Mekadatu Project

The Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project involves the construction of a balancing reservoir across Cauvery near Mekedatu in Karnataka. While the project cost is estimated at Rs 9,000 crore, the proposal is aimed at providing drinking water facilities to the Bengaluru Metropolitan region and its surrounding areas (4.75 TMC) and generate 400 MW of power as an additional benefit.

Tamil Nadu had all along strongly opposed the project and approached the Supreme Court as well saying any dam proposal by upper riparian states in the Cauvery basin would deprive the state's delta farmers of their rightful share of water.