Mandya: Mekedatu is the only permanent solution to the Cauvery water crisis and the state government is firmly committed to implementing the project, Water Resources Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy said on Wednesday.
Speaking at a meeting with farmer leaders at the Zilla Panchayat hall here to discuss farmers’ grievances, drought conditions and issues related to the sixth phase of the drinking water project, Chaluvarayaswamy said the government would not take any decision that would cause distress to farmers.
“The government is ready to address farmers’ concerns in consultation with them,” he said.
The minister said technical and legal preparations for the Mekedatu project were underway and a proposal had been submitted to the Central Water Commission. Officials in Delhi were closely monitoring the process, he said.
“We have a firm resolve to lay the foundation stone for the project by March,” Chaluvarayaswamy said, adding that the project would provide a permanent solution to the Cauvery issue.
On the sixth phase of the drinking water project, he clarified that it had been formulated solely to meet drinking water requirements. If necessary, a meeting would be convened in Bengaluru after consultations with irrigation experts, he said, adding that farmers from Mandya would also be invited to participate and offer their suggestions.
Referring to water releases to Tamil Nadu, Chaluvarayaswamy said Karnataka had released less water this time compared with the previous period.
He said efforts were underway to apprise the court of the state’s drought situation and the actual storage position in reservoirs.
The minister also expressed confidence that the proposed construction of reservoirs at Noogu reservoir and Tannur Lake would help ease the water crisis and provide additional relief to the region.
