Source Deccan Herald
BENGALURU — Reiterating Karnataka’s stance on the contentious Mekedatu project, Deputy Chief Minister and Water Resources Minister D.K. Shivakumar stated that the proposed reservoir is designed primarily to benefit lower riparian states, with Karnataka retaining only a minor fraction strictly for Bengaluru’s drinking water needs.
Speaking on the dispute, Shivakumar emphasized that aside from roughly 4 to 5 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) required for drinking water in Bengaluru and surrounding regions, the entirety of the water stored in the Mekedatu balancing reservoir would ultimately flow to Tamil Nadu.
Shivakumar noted that he had placed this commitment directly on record before Union Home Minister Amit Shah, stressing Karnataka’s willingness to build and manage the balancing reservoir without depriving Tamil Nadu of its mandated share under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Supreme Court awards.
Key Highlights of the Statement:
Drinking Water Focus: Karnataka’s direct withdrawal from the project is restricted strictly to meeting the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru and adjacent areas.
Storage for Distress Years: The Deputy Chief Minister highlighted that the Mekedatu dam is planned as a balancing reservoir to hold surplus water during heavy monsoon seasons, ensuring regulated and uninterrupted releases to Tamil Nadu during lean or drought periods.
Assurance to the Centre: The stance was reiterated during discussions with central leadership, underscoring that Karnataka does not intend to use the stored water for expanded irrigation in the Cauvery basin.
The long-standing Mekedatu balancing reservoir and drinking water project, proposed across the Cauvery River in Kanakapura taluk of Ramanagara district, remains a point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. While Karnataka maintains that the project resolves water-sharing challenges during distress years, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the construction, citing concerns over water security and river ecology.
