Tamil Nadu: Duraimurugan Meets Shekhawat, Raises Mekedatu & Markandeya Dam Issues

TN Water Resources Minister, S Duraimurugan met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and tabled the Markandeya and Mekedatu dam issues.

TN Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan Met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi.

Chennai: Days after B. S. Yediyurappa and MK Stalin exchanged letters on the Mekedatu dam project across river Cauvery, Water Resources Minister of Tamil Nadu, Duraimurugan met Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in New Delhi and tabled the Karnataka’s Mekedatu and Markandeya dam projects and other inter-state river water issues On June 6.

During his meet with Shekhawat, Duraimurugan emphasised Tamil Nadu’s objection to the Mekedatu project and appealed to the Centre not to grant any permission to Karnataka as it went against the interest of farmers.

Besides, requesting Shekhawat to direct Karnataka to release the monthly quantum of Cauvery water at Bilingudu, he also said that the Centre should ensure that Cauvery Water Management Authority finalises the monthly quantum of water to be released to Tamil Nadu by the state.

TN Water Resource Minister Duraimurugan met Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat regarding #MekedatuProject, Cauvery water dispute & other issues. pic.twitter.com/o4yCVs0ci8

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Duraimurugan also asked him to form an inter-state water disputes tribunal to resolve the Markandeya river issue according to the November 14, 2019, Supreme Court order.

Speaking on the reports that Karnataka had constructed a 50m high dam across Markandeya river, he said the Markandeya river is a tributary of the Pennaiyaru river.

He said that this dam would affect about 870 hectares of agricultural land getting irrigation in Krishnagiri district. According to sources, Duraimurugan also looked for permission to cut down 23 trees to strengthen the baby dam and earth dam to increase the water storage level in the Muallaiperiyar Dam to 152 ft, besides directing the Kerala government to accord permission for restoring the forest roads.

As per the DT report, the TN Water Resources Minister also discussed the implementation of the Godavari-Krishna-Pennaru-Cauvery inter-river linking project as a National project after holding talks with the concerned states and also sought Central funding for the Tamirabhara-ni-Karumeni canal project and reimbursement of a balance of Rs 44.48 crore due from the Centre for taking up a repair, renovation and restoration works of various waterways in the state.