What has CM Basavaraj Bommai said about the Mekedatu project in the Assembly?

Leader of Opposition Siddaramaiah in the legislative Assembly raise objections over Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat’s recent statement that the Centre is ready to facilitate talks between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the Mekedatu project. Citing Shekhawat’s statement, Siddaramaiah expressed apprehensions about the Government of India granting clearances for the project.

Reacting to this, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said: “Regarding the Mekedatu project there have been discussions, though the factual position is known to everyone, its repercussions need to be discussed with the legal team.”

Noting that the task before Karnataka is to begin the work after getting the Detailed Project Report (DPR) approved and environmental clearance from the Centre, he said, he has already had two rounds of discussions with the legal team regarding the legal repercussions, and will be calling an all-party meeting, probably this week itself. “Our stand is very clear that our responsibility is to give Tamil Nadu the due water which has been allocated by the tribunal, other than we don’t have any other responsibility. They (TN) have put a miscellaneous application, in this background, let’s all come to one decision to go ahead and begin the Mekedatu work at the earliest, after getting to know the legal point of view from experts,” he added.

The Chief Minister also made it clear that there are no plans of negotiations regarding the Mekedatu project before the state government, as mentioned by the Union Minister. “Getting the DPR approved and environmental clearance is the only agenda before us.”