Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday raised a pitch for the contentious Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River near Kanakapura and appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to be generous.
Shivakumar, who hails from Kanakapura and is an MLA from there, said the Karnataka government will have to make the preparations required for the project.
He also insisted that it will benefit not only Bengaluru but also the farmers of Tamil Nadu.
"With regard to Mekedatu, we had marched for water (in 2021). Tamil Nadu will not have any problem. After our march, (the then) Chief Minister (Basavaraj Bommai) had earmarked Rs 1,000 crore for the project. It has been proposed but has not been spent yet. We have to make the requisite preparations," Shivakumar told reporters here.
He said, "It’s not that we have any hatred for Tamil Nadu or wage a war against it. Those residing there are our brethren and their brethren are here as well. So, there is no scope for hatred or jealousy. It is our project. It will benefit them as well. We have to help all the farmers in the Cauvery basin."
Stating that the key to unlocking the Mekedatu issue is with the Centre, Shivakumar said there were orders on how much water Karnataka has to release.
He wondered how Tamil Nadu will be at a loss if Karnataka sets up a power plant there.
"We will store water and supply it to Bengaluru. It has been approved in the Cauvery Tribunal award. So there is no need to panic," the Deputy Chief Minister said.
He appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to consider the project as it will not affect their interest.
"I request you (Tamil Nadu government) that we will not trouble you. Be generous. We too are generous. We are neighbouring states. We have fought enough and seen enough legal battles. It never helps. May we deal with it harmoniously? It will help in providing drinking water and benefit your farmers as well," Shivakumar said.
The Mekedatu multi-purpose (drinking and power) project involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in the Ramanagara district.
The estimated Rs 9,000-crore project, once completed, is aimed at ensuring drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas (4.75 TMC) and it can also generate 400 MW of power.
Karnataka has maintained that the project within its territory will benefit both states as the surplus water stored can be managed between the two during a distress year, and its implementation will in no way affect the interests of Tamil Nadu’s farming communities, as there will be no impact on its share of water.
However, the neighbouring state is of the view that the project would “impound and divert” the uncontrolled water flow due to Tamil Nadu from the Kabini sub-basin, the catchment area below Krishnarajasagara, and also from Simsha, Arkavathy and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams.