New Delhi: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday has passed a resolution against the Karnataka government's decision to build a dam across the Cauvery river. The resolution also urged the Centre to not give clearance to the Karnataka government on technical and environmental aspects.
Appealing to the Centre to not grant permission to the Karnataka government to construct the Mekedatu dam across the river, Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister V Duraimurugan brought a resolution opposing Karnataka's decision to allot money for the construction of reservoir across Cauvery without permission.
Tamil Nadu BJP also agreed on supporting the ruling DMK in Mekedatu dam issue. "TN BJP will also appeal the Central government on Mekedatu dam issue," said Tamil Nadu BJP leader Nainar Nagendran as quoted by news agency ANI.
The resolution moved by Duraimurugan stated, "The action of Government of Karnataka, without respecting the final order of Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal, dated 5.2.2007 and the judgment of the Supreme Court dated 16.2.2018 and also without obtaining the consent of co-basin States and necessary clearances from the Government of India, in proposing to construct Meketadu Dam across Cauvery river, unilaterally, and allocating funds for the same is not acceptable and hence, the action of Karnataka government is strongly condemned by this August House."
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads due to the Mekedatu dam issue for quite some time now. In the recent development, Basavaraj Bommai-led Karnataka government in its 2022-23 budget has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of a dam at Mekedatu across river Cauvery. The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister then said that it was a unilateral act, The Indian Express reported.