JOIN USConsult panel before starting Cauvery basin projects, Karnataka told
The Ministry of Water Resources has informed the Karnataka government that before taking up any projects in the Cauvery basin area, it has to get them examined by the Cauvery Supervisory Committee headed by Union Water Resources Secretary.
The Cauvery Supervisory Committee has been set up on the orders of the Supreme Court to implement the award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) on the water shares allocated to Cauvery basin states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Union Minister of State for Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation Sanjay Kumar Balyan in his written answer to the Rajya Sabha on Monday said that the Ministry has also asked Karnataka to share its plans for the proposed power project it intends to build on the Cauvery river with the co-basin states (Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry) and bring them on board before taking up a detailed project report (DPR) or construction.
The minister was replying to a question whether the government has received any representation from the Tamil Nadu government requesting the Centre to advise Karnataka not to proceed with the construction of a reservoir at Mekedatu and Shivanasamudram run of the river power project.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has received a DPR for Shivanasamudram run of the river power project from Karnataka Power Corporation Ltd in 2014.
The same has been returned to Karnataka asking it to obtain views/comments of basin states in view of the final award of CWDT to facilitate its examination from inter-state angle, Balyan said.
No proposal received
However, the minister said that the CWC has not received any proposal from Karnataka on Mekedatu project.
But, the Karnataka Government had informed the CWC that Tamil Nadu has filed an interim application in the Supreme Court objecting this project.
The Karnataka government also clarified that it has no plans to proceed with the construction of the above projects without informing the Supreme Court as the interim application is pending before it, the minister added.