From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Mar 22: Reiterating Karnataka’s resolve to implement the Mekedatu project, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Tuesday alleged that the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government was always using Cauvery water issue as its political ploy to score brownie points.

Strongly opposing Tamil Nadu’s assembly resolution against the Mekedatu project, the Chief Minister said all governments in Tamil Nadu have been using the Cauvery water issue as a tool in their political games from the beginning and asserted that the State Government will take all steps to implement the Mekedatu project, which is essentially a balancing reservoir meant to utilise the excess Cauvery water flowing to the sea and also to meet the drinking water needs of Bengaluru.

Speaking to media persons in front of his residence on Tuesday, Bommai said the Cauvery water dispute tribunal has already given its final award. Cauvery Management Authority has already been constituted with representation from all the riparian states, including Tamil Nadu.

“Cauvery originates in Karnataka and the water flows to Tamil Nadu. The State Government has prepared the Detailed Project Report for utilising State’s share of Cauvery waters. Tamil Nadu has always been opposing Karnataka and approaching the Supreme Court on flimsy grounds,’’ he explained.

The Chief Minister pointed out that the National Green Tribunal has already ruled in favour of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has challenged the order in the apex court. The resolution passed by the Tamil Nadu assembly has no legal sanctity and it is merely a political ploy, he said and maintained that several such resolutions have been passed in the past with no result.

“Karnataka will go ahead with the Mekedatu project as per the unanimous decision arrived at the recent meeting of all party leaders and is waiting for the Union Environmental Ministry’s approval for the detailed project report. There is no going back on the issue,’’ he declared.

On the comments made by Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Ravat demanding a film on ‘Belagavi Files’ depicting the atrocities in the border district of Belagavi, the Chief Minister held that the border issue has already been resolved and there is no dispute.

Bommai pointed out that Sollapur, Akkalkote and some other predominantly Kannada speaking areas were still with Maharashtra. There is no point in raising border issue again and again, he said.

The Chief Minister alleged that the Shiv Sena leader was trying to divert public attention by raising the Belagavi border issue and such gimmicks will never work.