Mekedatu project will collect excess water, urge Karnataka and Tamil Nadu CMs to engage in constructive consultation: Tejasvi Surya
Bengaluru, June 23
BJP MP Tejasvi Surya has said that the primary objective behind the Mekedatu Reservoir project is to collect excess water that would otherwise flow into the sea and utilize it in a judicious manner.
He told the media that the project is going to benefit the people of Tamil Nadu even more than the people of Karnataka.
"This is because the lower riparian state is bound to benefit from a project designed to preserve excess water. Unfortunately, the matter has taken a political direction," he said.
"Instead of turning this into a Tamil Nadu versus Karnataka conflict, making it a regional issue, and indulging in irresponsible politics, I would urge both Chief Ministers to engage in a more constructive consultation and educate the citizens of both states on the actual benefits of this project. It is very easy to ignite regionalism and fan regionalistic flames in the country, but that does not constitute sensible policy," he added.
Tamil Nadu Assembly has passed a resolution opposing Karnataka's proposed dam across the Cauvery River.
The resolution, moved by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, cited legal and constitutional concerns and reiterated Tamil Nadu's objections to the project, arguing that it could affect downstream water availability, particularly during periods of drought.
Supporting the project, Karnataka Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy recently described Mekedatu as an important storage initiative that would help conserve water and generate power while benefiting farmers in both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
"Mekedatu is a project to build a new dam. It is only for storage. Bengaluru will get 4.75 TMC of drinking water from this, and 400 MW of power will also be generated," Reddy had said.
Karnataka leaders have maintained that the project is intended to harness surplus water and would not affect Tamil Nadu's allocated share under existing Cauvery water-sharing arrangements.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I understand Tamil Nadu's concerns about water security, but the Mekedatu project is only for storing excess water. As a Kannadiga living in Bengaluru, I know how desperate we are for drinking water. 4.75 TMC for our city is not a luxury, it's a necessity. Both CMs need to stop the political drama and talk like adults.
I'm from Tamil Nadu and I'm worried about this. Even if they say it's "excess water", what about drought years? The Cauvery water sharing is already so tense. But I agree with Surya that turning this into a regional war helps no one. Maybe a neutral technical committee should evaluate this before it becomes another Kaveri dispute. 😔
The irony is that both states need water, but politicians are busy scoring points. TN should not oppose a project that will actually benefit them as the lower riparian state. And Karnataka should be transparent about the impact assessment. Tejasvi Surya's call for constructive consultation is the only way forward.
Respectfully, MP Surya's argument that TN will benefit more sounds like a sales pitch. Let's be honest - the primary beneficiary is Bengaluru's water supply. Instead of making promises to TN, the Karnataka government should provide concrete data on how the project won't affect TN's share during dry years. Only then can there be trust.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.