The Centre has taken an objection to State’s Mekedatu drinking water project. Centre says State cannot take up the project without the consent of neighbouring states. It has adopted delay tactics with and has bought time, as it wants to please both states.
The Central Government that is unwilling to help the State with regard to Mahadayi dispute, is now refusing permission to Mekedatu drinking water project. The project report submitted by the State to the Union Water Resources Department on June 7, has been returned with objections, reported Kannada Prabha.
The main contention of the Centre is that how can the State take up another project without taking the consent of the neighbouring states. It says the Cauvery water dispute is over 100 years old. The Cauvery Water Distribution Tribunal has given its final verdict in this regard and all the 3 states in the Cauvery basin have questioned the verdict and appealed to Supreme Court. The appeal has been heard by the SC and just when the verdict is to be announced, how can the State plan another drinking water project? That too without consulting and taking permission from the neighbouring states, the Centre has questioned.
The Centre also states that instead of taking a hasty decision in this regard it is better to look into the consequences of the project implementation. The Water Resources Department argued that already there is shortage of water in Cauvery basin. There is dispute with regard to distribution of water. In such a situation the State planning a new project on Cauvery is not desirable.
Cauvery Irrigation Corporation MD B Shivashankar has said that the Centre has raised questions which will be answered after appropriate studies carried out. In fact, for the NDA government it is a catch 22 situation because BJP needs both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during the 2018 elections. Hence, it has adopted delay tactics with regard to Mekedatu drinking water project and has bought time, reported Kannada Prabha.
