From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, Apr 30: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah led an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the Centre’s "cooperation" for implementing the Mekedatu Hydro-Electric Project across the river Cauvery in the state, which is being opposed by neighbouring Tamil Nadu.
Most of Karnataka’s MPs, including union minister H N Ananth Kumar and Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, who is Rajya Sabha member from the State, as also State’s law and parliamentary affairs minister T B Jayachandra, State’s water resources minister M B Patil and Congress party’s leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjuna Kharge were part of the delegaiton, whicb called on Modi in Delhi on Thursday.’
The chief minister explained that the Mekedatuproject is expected to generate electric power (400 MW) and store drinking water needed for Bengaluru city.
"There is no irrigation contemplated under the project as alleged by Tamil Nadu," Karnataka’s memorandum that was submitted to Modi said.
"The State has planned to implement Shivasamudram and Mekadatu projects on its own. At present the preparation of DPR in respect of Shivasamudram is undertaken," the memorandum said.
Siddaramaiah explained the details of the project to the Prime Minister and sought his co-operation in conducting technical studies of the Mekadatu project and giving appropriate sanctions whenever the State Government approached the Centre with all the details, after the preparation of a final project report.
The chief minister termed Tamil Nadu’s objection to the project as "politically motivated".
Siddaramaiah said the interests of the neighbouring state would not be affected by this project at all.
"We are planning to construct a dam across the river Cauvery, which is in our territory," he said.
Karnataka was releasing 192 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu as per the award of the tribunal and asserted that construction of hydro-electric project was "within the rights of Karnataka," Siddaramaiah told reporters after the meeting Modi.
Mangaluru MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was also present.