From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jul 7: Unmindful of the neighbouring Tamil Nadu government’s objection, Karnataka will approve an action plan for early implementation of the Mekedatu drinking water project shortly, law and home minister Basavaraj Bommai said in Bengaluru on Wednesday.

Chief minister B S Yediyurappa will shortly convene a meeting to approve the action plan for implementing the Mekedatu project, which is very important to solve the drinking water problem in several districts in the state, Bommai said.

The home and law minister, who has already announced that the state government will take legal recourse to clear any hurdles sought to be put by Tamil Nadu, said the chief minister will be consulting the legal and technical experts on the action plan by the end of this week.

He pointed out that merely a miscellaneous petition was pending before the Supreme Court.

Bommai said the chief minister will consult legal experts on how to proceed or seek approvals for going ahead with the Mekedatu project before giving the green signal for implementing the action plan.

The minister contended that Mekedatu was of crucial importance to Karnataka and was likely to take a major part in the State’s handling of the Cauvery water utilization. It will also serve as a balancing reservoir during water scarcity years in the future.

"There is no question of going back on the decision to implement Mekedatu project,’’ he asserted.

Answering questions, he said no decision has been taken on convening the monsoon session of the State Legislature. "I will consult the chief minister on the issue,’’ he said.