Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday chaired a high-level meeting on Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Dam across the Cauvery river and is expected to announce the next course of action for the state in the next 10 days, Energy Resources and Law Minister R Nirmal Kumar said.
The meeting was attended by ministers, experts and lawyers who have been fighting the legal battle over the project for about 15 years.
“Today, as a first step, a consultative meeting was held with all relevant experts and lawyers who have been fighting this legal battle for nearly 15 years. Based on some suggestions raised during the meeting, a decision on the next phase will be taken in a few weeks,” Kumar said at a press conference at the Secretariat.
He added that the Prime Minister will issue the necessary orders after the decision is taken.
“In another week or ten days, he will publish details of the specific actions we will take on the Mukidato case,” Kumar said.
Ministers N Anand (Rural Development and Water Resources) Aadhav Arjuna (Public Works and Sports Development), Chief Secretary M Sai Kumar and senior government officials were also present at the meeting.
On July 19, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously passed a resolution opposing Karnataka’s proposal to build the Mekedatu Dam and expressed support for all measures taken by the state government on the issue.
Vijay moved the resolution which received support from opposition parties, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin.
The Tamil Nadu Congress also supported the position of the ruling Tamil Nadu Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government in the Assembly, despite the Congress being in power in Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu has opposed the construction of the proposed Mekedatu reservoir in Karnataka for nearly fifteen years, arguing that it would negatively impact the livelihoods of farmers, especially in the Cauvery delta region.
