TN plea against new dams in Karna to come up in SC: Minister

Chennai, Aug 17 (PTI) Public Works Department MinisterEdappadi K Palaniswamy today informed the Assembly that thestate’s petition pending in Supreme Court against constructionof new dams across Cauvery river at Mekedatu in Karnataka isexpected to be taken up by the apex court soon. He said all legal steps would be taken to thwart newdams and establish the rights of Tamil Nadu. After DMK deputy leader Durai Murugan raised theMekedatu issue in the House urging government to organise anall-party meet and lead a delegation to Prime MinisterNarendra Modi on the matter, he said, "The petitions relatedto the issue are pending in Supreme Court and it is expectedthat the court will soon take them up for hearing." Congress legislature party leader K Ramasamy demandedthat all parties unitedly voice Tamil Nadu’s concerns to theCentre. The minister recalled that Chief Minister Jayalalithaahad written to Prime Minister Modi, Central Water Resourcesdepartment and Karnataka government in November 2014 againstnew dams in Mekedatu. Since there was no reply to such letters, Tamil Nadugovernment approached the Supreme Court on November 18, 2014seeking status quo and a direction to Karnataka to withdrawits "Expression of Interest," inviting qualified firms for theMekedatu dam works. Following this Karnataka told the State governmenttwice, first in November 2014 and later in March this yearthat it does not intend to construct new dams in Mekedatuwithout apprising Supreme Court vis-a-vis Tamil Nadu’s plea inthis regard. Also, Jayalalithaa had in this June urged Modi toprevail on Karnataka not to proceed against new dams inMekedatu. He said, against such a background, media has reportedthat Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah in his IndependenceDay address had said Rs 5,912 crore was estimated cost forbuilding a dam in Mekedatu. Through the initiative, theKarnataka Chief Minister has said drinking water would besupplied and 400 MW power generated, he said. "The government of Amma (Jayalalithaa) will take alllegal steps to uphold the rights of Tamil Nadu if Karnatakaintended to implement any project without the consent of TamilNadu and against final award of the Cauvery Tribunal," hesaid. PTI VGN BN IKAKK