Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday moved a resolution in the State Legislative Assembly strongly opposing Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery River, urging all members of the House to extend unanimous support to the motion.
The resolution received backing from the Congress and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), with Tamil Nadu Assembly Congress leader Rakesh Kumar and VCK leader and Minister Vanniarasu expressing full support and stressing the need for a united stand on the inter-state river water dispute.
Moving the resolution, the Chief Minister asserted that the proposed project would violate existing legal provisions and adversely impact Tamil Nadu's rights over Cauvery waters.
According to the resolution, "This August House records its strong objection to the unilateral attempt of the Government of Karnataka to construct a dam across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu, without respecting the Final Award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal dated 5.2.2007 and the Judgment of the Hon'ble Supreme Court dated 16.2.2018, without obtaining the concurrence of the concerned basin States, and without securing any approval from the Union Government. Such an action is not at all acceptable.''
The resolution also urged the Centre to deny all approvals required for the project.
''This August House urges the Union Government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the Mekedatu Dam Project proposed by the Government of Karnataka,'' the resolution states.
Pointing to the water stress in the Cauvery basin, the resolution said, ''The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Hon'ble Supreme Court have observed that the Cauvery Basin is a deficit basin and that the total available water in the basin has already been apportioned among the basin States. Therefore, no new project can be undertaken in the Cauvery Basin, nor can any additional quantity of water be utilised.''
Describing the Cauvery dispute as a sensitive issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the Chief Minister called for strict adherence to legal and procedural requirements.
''The Cauvery issue is a highly sensitive matter between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Therefore, this August House urges the Union Government to advise the Government of Karnataka not to undertake the construction of a dam or any new water storage project at Mekedatu or at any other location in the Cauvery Basin without the concurrence of the other basin States and without the approval of the Union Government,'' the resolution reads.
The Tamil Nadu government also sought intervention from the Central Water Commission (CWC), urging it not to process Karnataka's Detailed Project Report (DPR).
''This August House further urges the Central Water Commission not to examine, process, or grant approval to the Detailed Project Report submitted by the Government of Karnataka. This August House unanimously expresses its support for all measures undertaken by the Government of Tamil Nadu to prevent this attempt by the Government of Karnataka so as to safeguard the interests of the farmers of Tamil Nadu," the resolution read.
(With inputs from ANI)