Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are directing a political conflict over the Mekedatu drinking water project across river Cauvery.
Within days of the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s resolution against the project, Karnataka’s legislative assembly is put to respond with an outcome striving the project’s timely commission and approvals from the Centre.
What is the Mekedatu water project?
Initially mooted in 1948, Mekedatu (which translates as Goat’s crossing) is a drinking water cum power generation project across river Cauvery. Karnataka gave the project shape after the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was notified in February 2013 distributing the riparian states their shares. After a pre-feasibility study report was introduced in 2018, the State accepted a precise project report to the Central Water Commission in 2019.
The ₹9,000 crores balancing reservoir at Mekedatu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border of 67.15 tmc (thousand million cubics) ft. of water. The project, which will involve the submergence of nearly 5,100 hectares of forest in Cauvery wildlife sanctuary hosting rich flora and fauna, will help the state in utilizing the additional 4.75 tmc ft. of water allocated by the Supreme Court in 2018 for consumptive use for drinking purposes for Bengaluru and neighboring areas.
Karnataka’s share in the award has been decided at 284.75 tmc ft. In July 2019, the Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects constituted by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has said the proposal could be reconsidered only after Tamil Nadu and Karnataka reach an “amicable solution.”
Importance of this project for Karnataka
The water from Mekedatu is to be pumped to suppress the thirst of the burgeoning population of Bengaluru which is computed to be around 1.3 crores.
Currently, more than 30% of Bengaluru is hanging on borewell water. Ramanagara and Bengaluru rural districts will also benefit. Along with the 5th stage of the Cauvery Water Supply Scheme, which will be completed shortly, the water from Mekedatu is projected to meet the water requirement of the State capital for the next 30 years.
Besides, there are also plans to generate 400 MW of power. The revenue earned from power generation is required to compensate the Government for its investment in the project within a few years. Karnataka insists that the reservoir will also help to ensure the monthly flow specified in the award for Tamil Nadu rather than harm the neighboring State’s interest in any way.
Why is Tamil Nadu opposed to it?
Tamil Nadu thinks that Karnataka, through the project, will seize and divert flows from “uncontrolled catchments” to it, a component which was taken into account by the Tribunal in the 2007 order while arriving at the water allocation plan for the State. As per an estimate, around 80 tmc ft of water flows annually to Tamil Nadu, thanks to the catchments including the area between Kabini dam in Karnataka and Billigundulu gauging site on the inter-State border, and the area between Krishnaraja Sagar dam in Karnataka and the gauging site.
As the upper riparian State has sufficient infrastructure even now to address the water needs of Bengaluru, there is no need for the Mekedatu project, according to Tamil Nadu.
Mekedatu also does not find mentioned in the Tribunal’s final order or the Supreme Court judgment.
The controversial Mekedatu reservoir project may not be implemented in the state any time soon since it’s stuck in a legal tangle. According to legal experts, the project is unlikely to move forward until the Supreme Court gives its verdict on a batch of petitions filed by the
Tamil Nadu government opposing it.
Besides, given the unpleasant experiences that it has had with Karnataka in securing its share of the Cauvery water, as per the monthly schedule of water release, Tamil Nadu is cautious of assurances from the other side.
Cauvery River
River rises on Brahmagiri Hill of the Western Ghats in south-western Karnataka state.
The river basin covers three states and a Union Territory as follows: Tamil Nadu, 43,868 square kilometres, Karnataka, 34,273 square kilometres l, Kerala, 2,866 square kilometres and Puducherry.
Key tributaries: Hemavati, Lakshmantirtha, Kabani (Kabbani), Amaravati, Noyil, and Bhavani rivers
Falls along the way: Upon entering Tamil Nadu, the Kaveri continues through a series of twisted wild gorges until it reaches Hogenakal Falls.
Dams: There the Mettur Dam was constructed for irrigation and hydel power in Tamil Nadu.
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