Jaya throws a spanner in hydro-power project

She also requested the prime minister to tell the ministry of environment and forests not to give clearance to any project of Karnataka

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa has written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention and advice to Karnataka government not to take up any schemes, including hydro-electric projects, in the Cauvery basin without her state’s consent.     

“I also request you to advice the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, not to accord clearance to any project by Karnataka in the river Cauvery till a permanent monitoring mechanism viz., the Cauvery Management Board is formed,” she said in her letter, a copy of which was made available to the media today.

Referring to media reports of Karnataka government’s plan to construct a hydro power station at Mekedatu for which three reservoirs across the river Cauvery were to be constructed, she said, “..The proposed reservoirs near Mekedatu are new schemes not contemplated in the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Further, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal prescribes the total quantity of water to be used for consumptive use.”

“Therefore, this proposal of Karnataka is wholly illegal and is causing great alarm and apprehension in Tamil Nadu, as it will affect the natural flow of the river Cauvery considerably and will severely affect the irrigation in Tamil Nadu,” she contented.     

Observing that Karnataka’s plan would “set at nought” the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, she said, “The government of Karnataka should not be allowed to unilaterally execute a scheme without the consent of the lower riparian state.”      

The Cauvery Management Board, which was directed to be constituted by the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal was yet to be put in place by the Centre.