Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar brought up the issue of the Mekedatu project at the Southern Zonal Council, stating that Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would benefit as much from it as Karnataka. In fact, except for using 5 tmcft for drinking purposes, the rest of the water stored in the proposed Mekedatu dam would be for Tamil Nadu, he said. “I have given a commitment to the State of Tamil Nadu before the Home Minister in this regard,” he said. “Let me assure you, every drop of water from the Mekedatu project will help farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Help us help you,” he added. In his address on water issues, Mr Shivakumar said rivers such as the Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Palar were the lifelines of the southern peninsula and called for a shift from “water sharing to water cooperation”. Referring to the June 25 meeting involving Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, he said the three States had demonstrated that inter-State water issues could be addressed through dialogue. “We accept that every riparian State has legitimate needs.
Our stand rests on three principles: equity, transparency, and cooperation,” he said. At the same time, he asserted that cooperation must be reciprocated and that Karnataka’s lawful share under tribunal awards and the timely completion of projects benefiting its farmers must be protected. Mr. Shivakumar said he would place Karnataka’s position on the Krishna, upper Bhadra, and the interlinking of rivers before the council.
