From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Nov 27: In a major boost to Karnataka’s long-standing demand seeking approval for the State Government’s ambitious Mekedatu hydro-electric project for generating electricity by utilizing the Cauvery river water flowing to neighbouring Tamil Nadu as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s award has received the green signal from the Central Water Commission (CWC).

The CWC, while granting the in-principle clearance for the Mekedatu project, has asked the Karnataka government to submit a detailed project report (DPR) by ensuring that the share of water allocated to Tamil Nadu was not disturbed.

It may be recalled that Karnataka had proposed to build a dam to store 66 tmcft of water at a cost of Rs 5,912 crore in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district. Under the project, 16 tmcft of water was to be utilized for hydel power generation of 400 mw and also meet the drinking water and irrigation needs of the people of Ramanagara, Kolar and Bengaluru rural districts.

Though successive governments in Karnataka have been pressing for the Central approval for the project, it was stalled due to strenuous objections from Tamil Nadu government. However, the first hurdle in implementing the project has been crossed with CWC approval.

The JD(S)-Congress coalition government’s Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy had even proposed the project in the government’s annual budget for the year 2018-19.

Both Kumaraswamy and Water Resource Minister D K Shivakumar, who hails from Ramanagara district, have personally met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Water Resource Minister Nitin Gadkari.

While announcing details of CWC clearance for the Mekedatu project, Shivakumar said the State Government has convened a meeting of all former Chief Ministers of Karnataka and other prominent leaders to discuss the issue in Bengaluru on December 6.

Yeddy thanks Modi, Gadkari

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and State BJP President B S Yeddyurappa, has in a press statement warmly complimented Modi and Gadkari for according CWC clearance for the Mekedatu project.

“It is a big relief for the people of Karnataka, particularly for the people of Cauvery valley as also for people hundreds of villages in Ramanagara, Kolar and Bengaluru districts, who have been suffering due to paucity of rains,’’ he said urging the State Government to expedite preparation and submission of DPR to the Centre at the earliest possible.

Yeddyurappa urged the State Government to execute the project on a priority basis by allocating the necessary funds and complete it in a time-bound manner.