Dam of Discord: Mekedatu Opens Up Floodgates of Major Inter-State Water Dispute

CHENNAI : Tamil Nadu, which has been on a decades-old struggle with Kerala over the Mullaperiyar dam and sharing of waters of the River Periyar flowing through Kerala, is now faced with a new issue on the waterfront -- the Mekedatu dam issue.

Karnataka is moving ahead with the construction of a dam across Cauvery, which according to Tamil Nadu would lead to a reduced water flow to the state thereby causing major drinking water problems.

The Mullaperiyar dam, even though located geographically inside Kerala, is maintained by Tamil Nadu and the litigation between the two sides regarding the water level and for the construction of a new dam is under the consideration of the Supreme Court.

The Mekedatu dam issue is developing into a major confrontation after the Karnataka government in its Budget for the financial year 2022-23 has allocated an amount of Rs 1,000 crore for the initial expenses to construct the Mekedatu dam across Cauvery.

After the amount of Rs 1,000 crore was allocated in the Budget for the Mekedatu dam construction, the Tamil Nadu side became agitated and the state water resources Minister S. Duraimurugan moved a resolution in the state Assembly during the Budget session against the Mekedatu dam project of Karnataka. The resolution was adopted unanimously by the state Assembly.

Interestingly, the Karnataka legislative Assembly passed a unanimous resolution condemning the Tamil Nadu side for having passed a resolution against the construction of the Mekedatu dam. The Karnataka legislative Assembly in the unanimous resolution urged the Centre to immediately give clearance to the project.

Cauvery is an emotional issue and can have a serious impact on the 2023 Assembly elections of Karnataka. The Karnataka side is of the opinion that the Mekedatu project is to quench the thirst of the population of Bengaluru. About 30 per cent of the water supply in Bengaluru at present, is through borewell water and the political parties of Karnataka are for implementing the project as it will also benefit the population of Ramanagara and Bengaluru rural districts.

However, Tamil Nadu feels that through the project, Karnataka would impound and divert flows of water from catchments towards it thus depriving Tamil Nadu of water. As per the estimate, around 80 tmc ft of water flows annually to Tamil Nadu, and the state water resources department has categorically stated that Karnataka which is the upper riparian state, has adequate infrastructure to address the water needs of Bengaluru and there was no need for Mekedatu project.

With both Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly and Karnataka Assembly passing unanimous resolutions in support of the position taken by the respective states, the issue can lead to a major interstate dispute.

The Central Water Commission and the Union Jal Shakti Ministry will have to take appropriate action to prevent the issue from snowballing into a major one like the earlier Cauvery confrontations between the neigbhouring states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. IANS

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