Tamil Nadu Appeals to PM Modi to Halt Karnataka's Mekedatu Project

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay issued a direct plea to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, asking for immediate intervention to halt Karnataka's Mekedatu Reservoir Project on the Cauvery River. Vijay claims that the project defies existing Supreme Court rulings and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award.

Vijay's appeal comes in the wake of Karnataka's decision to hold a 'Bhoomi Puja' for the project, a move that raises alarms among Tamil Nadu farmers reliant on Cauvery waters for their livelihood. He reminded that the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment clearly excluded the Mekedatu project from any permissible developments, stressing the basin's existing water allocations.

The letter criticized the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change for not granting terms for an Environmental Impact Assessment, highlighting inter-state disputes. Vijay urged Modi to direct relevant officers to reject Karnataka's proposal and prohibit further developments without Tamil Nadu's consent, considering ongoing legal agreements.

(With inputs from agencies.)