New Delhi: The Central Government on Thursday explained in the Lok Sabha what is the DPR status of the Meketatu Dam, which Karnataka is trying to build.
In a question raised by Villupuram MP D. Ravikumar in the Lok Sabha, ‘Has the central government taken a decision to allow Karnataka to build a dam at Meketatu? What is the central government’s stand on the decision taken in the recent meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority?’ He had asked.
Union Minister of State for Water Resources Bishweshwar Tudu’s reply to these questions is as follows: The Feasibility Report (FR) of Karnataka for the Mekedhatu Reservoir and Drinking Water Project has been submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) for “policy-level” approval for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
By the CWC Planning Commission, the Government of Karnataka has given ‘in-principle’ permission to prepare the DPR subject to certain conditions: “As the main objective of the project is to implement the judgment of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal modified by the Supreme Court, acceptance of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWM) will be a pre-condition for this,” it said.
Subsequently, the DPR of the Meketatu Reservoir and Drinking Water Project was submitted to the CWC in January 2019 by the Government of Karnataka. Copies of the project report were also sent to the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
During various meetings of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, it was included in the agenda to discuss the project report of the Meketatu Reservoir and Drinking Water Project. However, due to lack of consensus among the states concerned, discussion on this agenda did not take place.
Later, in view of the decision taken in the 15th meeting of CWMA held on February 11 last, legal advice of the Ministry of Law and Justice was obtained and conveyed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
The discussion on Mekhedatu Reservoir and drinking water project was again included in the agenda of the 16th meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Commission held on 22nd of last month. However, the Minister said that the project report on Meketatu Dam was not discussed in the meeting.
