Question : Resolving of Mekedatu Project Issue

(a) whether the Union Government has received any Memorandum or plea from the Government of Tamil Nadu seeking Centre’s intervention and to direct the Central Water Commission (CWC) to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for the DPR of construction of Dam at Mekedatu in river Cauvery;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Union Government thereto; and
(c) the effective steps taken/to be taken by the Union Government to protect the interests of the concerned States and to resolve the matter amicably?

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT AND GANGA REJUVENATION & PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS

(SHRI ARJUN RAM MEGHWAL)

(a) & (b) Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (MoWR, RD & GR) has received a letter dated 27.11.2018 from Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and a letter dated 27.11.2018 from Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu requesting to withdraw the permission given by Central Water Commission (CWC) to Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited of Karnataka for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project.

(c) In-Principle clearance given by CWC for preparation of DPR of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project by Project Authority (Government of Karnataka) is conditional subject to Government of Karnataka resolving inter-State matters amicably by due consultations with co-basin States of Cauvery Basin. As per the procedures laid down in the “Guidelines for Submission, Appraisal and Acceptance of Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects, 2017”, CWC carries out appraisal of DPR from different aspects which includes inter-State aspects. The Central Government has also constituted Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Administrative Secretary in charge of Water Resources Department of all the co-basin States, including Tamil Nadu is a member of this Authority. Acceptance of the DPR by CWMA is a pre-requisite for consideration of DPR by the Advisory Committee of MoWR, RD & GR for its techno-economic approval.

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