Karnataka can never build a dam at Mekedatu, says Minister

Minister for Water Resources and Rural Development N. Anand said here on Thursday that Karnataka could never build a dam across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu.

When his attention was drawn by reporters at the Tiruchi Airport on the recent statement of Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar that his State did not need Tamil Nadu’s permission to build the dam and that he would surely take up the project, Mr. Anand said that it would never happen even if Mr. Shivakumar went on claiming that the BJP leaders were also supporting the project.

Mr. Anand later met Union Minister for Jal Shakti C.R. Patil at a hotel here. They held a discussion on the status of ongoing projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission for rural water supply and Jal Shakti Abhiyan for water conservation and groundwater recharge. They participated in a regional conference on the implementation of projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission. Senior officials of the Jal Shakti Ministry and officials from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Keralam and Union Territory of Puducherry participated.

During the day, Mr Anand also made a surprise visit to the Upper Anicut (Mukkombu). He held a discussion with A. Jayakumari, Chief Engineer, River Cauvery Division, Water Resources Department, V. Dinesh Kannan, Assistant Executive Engineer and senior officials on the operation and maintenance of the barrages.

The Minister said that the State government had sanctioned ₹126 crore to rehabilitate the damaged apron and barrage across the Cauvery River at Mukkombu. The protective apron and barrage structure suffered severe erosion and damage during heavy Cauvery flood releases in 2021 and 2022. The rehabilitation work will start soon.