Will not violate SC order, Karnataka committed to construct Mekedatu dam : Minister

(UNI) Reiterating his stand that a new dam at
Mekedatu across river Cauvery would be constructed, Karnataka
Water Resources Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said it would
be constructed after getting all clearances from the Centre to address
the drinking water needs of the people.
Mr Shivakumar is in the city to call on 111-year-old Siddhaganga Seer,
who underwent a surgery here yesterday.
Talking to reporters at the airport, before leaving for Bengaluru, he said
Karnataka was determined and committed in constructing the dam at
Mekedatu to store 57 tmc ft of water.
”Only after getting all clearances from the Centre, we will construct the
dam at Mekedatu”, he added.
Inviting leaders of all parties in Tamil Nadu with folded hands to visit the
dam site, he said construction of a new dam at Mekedatu would in no
way affect flow of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu.
Asserting that Karnataka does not want adopt a confrontationist attitude
with neighbouring Tamil Nadu, he said TN was a brother state.
”A large number of our bothers are living in Tamil Nadu”, he added.
He also said that Karnataka would not violate the Supreme Court and said
the Centre has not given the nod to construct the dam, but only to prepare
the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Mr Shivakumar also promised that the water to be stored at Mekdeatu dam
would not be used for irrigation.
Stating that Tamil Nadu would be more beneficial than Karnataka with the
construction of new dam at Mekedatu, he hoped that once the DPR was
prepared, Tamil Nadu would understand about it as the dam was meant to
prevent surplus waters, which could not be used by both the states, from
being let into the sea.