Centre says Tamil Nadu’s consent not mandatory for Mekedatu project

New Delhi : The Centre has clarified in Parliament that Karnataka does not require the consent of Tamil Nadu for implementing the proposed Mekedatu drinking water project on the Cauvery River.

Responding to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha by Tamil Nadu MP Anbumani Ramadoss, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary stated in a written reply that the Supreme Court’s February 2018 judgment on the Cauvery water dispute does not mandate Karnataka to obtain the consent of Tamil Nadu, Kerala or the Union Territory of Puducherry before taking up any construction across the Cauvery.

The minister said the apex court judgment contains no provision requiring prior approval from the lower riparian states for such projects.

Anbumani Ramadoss had asked whether the Centre was aware of the Supreme Court ruling and whether Karnataka had secured the consent of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry for the proposed Mekedatu project. He also sought details on the present status of the proposal before the Central Government.

The Centre’s clarification is expected to strengthen Karnataka’s stand on the long-pending Mekedatu project, which has consistently been opposed by Tamil Nadu over concerns about downstream water availability.