Mekedatu dam’s feasibility yet to be established: CWMA Chairman

Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) Chairman S.K. Haldar said on Friday that the proposed Mekedatu reservoir of the Karnataka government could not be taken forward at this stage as its techno-commercial feasibility was “yet to be established”. He said the project was no longer before the CWMA, as the file had already been returned to the Central Water Commission (CWC).

“The Karnataka government has proposed this project, but its techno-commercial feasibility — whether it is fit to be taken up for investment — is yet to be established. Only if those aspects are established can we say whether the project will come up or not. At this stage, these things are yet to be finalised,” Mr. Haldar told reporters after inspecting the Kallanai (Grand Anicut).

Mr. Haldar’s visit to Kallanai was a part of an inspection of the structures on the Cauvery. He was accompanied by Engineer Murali, Chief Engineer Sivasubramaniam, Superintending Engineers Thileepan (South Cauvery Irrigation Circle, Thanjavur), and Sudhakar (Middle Cauvery Irrigation Circle, Tiruchi).

Earlier in the day, Tamil Nadu All Farmers’ Organisations Co-ordination Committee president P.R. Pandian met Mr. Haldar and submitted a memorandum urging the CWMA to formally reject Karnataka’s draft Mekedatu dam proposal. He argued that the dam would adversely affect downstream irrigation and reiterated the demand for permission to construct a check dam in Rasimanal to prevent surplus flows into the sea. Mr. Pandian also requested that the CWMA not take up the Mekedatu issue for discussion in its next meeting, which has been scheduled for December 8.