The Karnataka Assembly today (Wednesday) passed a resolution condemning the Tamil Nadu government over the Megha Dadu issue.
Record: March 23, 2022 04:57
AM
Bangalore,
The Karnataka government has decided to build a new dam across the Cauvery at Megha Dadu near Kanagapura in Karnataka. The Megha Dadu Dam is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore. A detailed project report has been prepared by the Government of Karnataka and submitted to the Central Department of Water Resources and the Department of Environment for approval.
Tamil Nadu has been protesting against this project. Thus, the central government has not yet given permission for the Megha Dadu project. Union Water Resources Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has demanded that Tamil Nadu and Karnataka hold talks and find a lasting solution to the issue.
Meanwhile, the Karnataka budget has allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of the Megha Dadu Dam. In this situation, a resolution was passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly yesterday against the Megha Dadu Dam project.
The issue was echoed in the Karnataka Assembly yesterday. That is, the budget session of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly began on the 4th at Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore. At the first day meeting, First Minister Basavaraj presented the Karnataka Budget for the year 2022-23. The budget was subsequently debated and passed by voice vote. Then the discussion on the grant request of various departments has started and is going on.
In this context, the 13th day meeting of the budget session started yesterday morning at Vidhana Soudha, Bangalore. Question time was taken as the meeting began.
After that, at zero time, senior Congress member HK Patil stood up and raised the issue of the Tamil Nadu state assembly bringing a resolution against the Megha Dadu project.
He said, “The Tamil Nadu government has passed a resolution in the Assembly against the Megha Dadu project, thereby interfering with the Tamil Nadu government’s plan.
The water used for the Megha Dadu project is not allocated to Tamil Nadu. The drinking water project is being implemented in the water allotment allotted to Karnataka. As well as is planned to generate electricity. Bangalore needs drinking water. In this context, we condemn the resolution passed by the Government of Tamil Nadu. We have to bring a resolution in our assembly to respond to them. “
Following this, former First Ministers Chidramaiah, Eduyurappa and Kumaraswamy, while speaking, called for a resolution of protest against the Tamil Nadu government. Minister of State for Legislative Affairs and Law Madhusamy also addressed the gathering.
Finally, in response to this debate, First Minister Basavaraj Puppet said: –
The position of the Government of Karnataka on the Megha Dadu project is very clear. We have decided to implement the Cloud Plan on our water, our land. The Megha Dadu project is being implemented to meet the drinking water needs of the city of Bangalore. As well as electricity is generated. Not even a drop of water is wasted because it produces electricity. It will go to Tamil Nadu.
Karnataka has told the Central Water Authority and the Cauvery Administration that the project will not affect Tamil Nadu. We have also stated the details required for that. 177.25 TMC during normal years (drought free) for Tamil Nadu. (One TMC is 100 crore cubic feet) Water must be supplied. But in the last few years more water has gone to Tamil Nadu than that.
The Government of Tamil Nadu has implemented various drinking water projects in its area without the permission of the Central Government and the Government of Karnataka. The state has announced that it is currently implementing the 2nd phase of the Okanagan Joint Drinking Water Project. Karnataka has objected to this. We have taken this to court as well.
Tamil Nadu is interfering in the use of water allotted to it by Karnataka. 9 TMC before the city of Bangalore. Tamil Nadu strongly opposed the decision to use Cauvery water. Karnataka used it after a long struggle. We will put pressure on the Central Government to give permission for the Meghadau project. We will get permission through that.
It is illegal for the Tamil Nadu state assembly to pass a resolution on the Megha Dadu project. The political system is against the federal philosophy. The resolution will be passed here in the Karnataka Assembly in response. The pros and cons of this will be discussed with legal experts this (yesterday) evening. Tomorrow (today) in the assembly, a resolution condemning the Tamil Nadu government will be brought and passed. The government of Karnataka is clear on its position on the Megha Dadu project.
We will complete the implementation of the cloud plan. Let’s build the dam. The government is committed to this. It has already been decided to take the all-party delegation to Delhi. We will go to Delhi after this meeting. Bangalore has not only Kannadas but people of all languages. Everyone has to be provided with drinking water.
Thus spoke the Basavaraj puppet.