Bengaluru's drinking water crisis is due to delay in Mekedatu project clearance, Karnataka writes to Jal Shakti Minister C R Paatil
In a petition submitted by Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to C R Paatil on Tuesday, the state government said that construction of the reservoir – which is opposed by Tamil Nadu – was permitted as per Clause XIII of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
Noting that the project was located 'well within the territorial limits of Karnataka', the petition said 'neither Karnataka nor Central government need to take the consent of the State of Tamil Nadu' for the project. It also cited a Supreme Court judgment to support this view.
'The Project, as planned, does not cause any prejudice or injury to the State of Tamil Nadu. In fact, it helps Tamil Nadu such that the water can be regulated to Tamil Nadu during distress year as per the monthly schedule of release of water,' the letter read.
Karnataka argued that the climate extremes in the basin 'strengthen the demands of Karnataka' for early construction of the project. 'The delay in accordance of clearances by the Central Government has caused immense socio-economical losses/impact to the State of Karnataka including Drinking Water crisis in the Bengaluru Metropolitan city region,' it said.
Shivakumar also submitted a petition to Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupendra Yadav, seeking in-principle approval for the diversion of 111 hectares (around 274 acres) of forest land–partly situated in Hassan and Tumakuru districts–for the implementation of Yettinahole Integrated Drinking Water Supply Project.
The land is for the construction of a gravity main canal that would provide drinking water in the villages of the two districts.
The project aims to divert 24.01 thousand million cubic feet of water from streams in the Western Ghats to drought-prone areas such as Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Tumakuru, Hassan, and other districts.
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