Bengaluru: Irrigation minister N Cheluvarayaswamy Wednesday met Anupam Prasad, chairperson, Central Water Commission (CWC), in New Delhi and sought expedited clearances for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project along the Cauvery river.The meeting gains significance after CWC member Yogesh Paitankar visited the project site and precedes the Centre validating Karnataka’s move of constructing the Mekedatu without the consent of other riparian states. Lower riparian state Tamil Nadu has vehemently opposed the project.A statement issued by Cheluvarayaswamy’s office said the minister told Prasad Karnataka had already submitted its responses to the compliance report sought by CWC. He urged CWC to facilitate timely examination of the project and extend necessary technical cooperation to enable its progress.Cheluvarayaswamy is said to have assured the commission that Karnataka would promptly provide any additional technical information or clarifications required during the process of examining the revised detailed project report (DPR) for the project. He also shared details on the ground condition at the proposed project site and discussed technical aspects arising from the inspection.Chief minister DK Shivakumar and the Congress govt has projected the Mekedatu project as an essential mechanism to supply drinking water for Bengaluru, which is completely dependent on Cauvery, and neighbouring districts.Cheluvarayaswamy lobbied for the project, citing its importance to shore up drinking water requirements, facilitating hydropower generation and improving regulation of Cauvery water released downstream. He told the CWC the state govt is strongly committed to taking the project forward.Last month, the project received bipartisan backing at an all-party meeting in Karnataka, with functionaries across parties supporting its implementation despite differences over the state’s overall management of water resources.Addressing reporters after the meeting, Shivakumar said there was consensus on taking the project forward and cited former CM and Haveri MP Basavaraj Bommai’s support for the initiative. Dismissing allegations of technical deficiencies in the project’s detailed project report (DPR), Shivakumar said the Centre had only sought clarification on the proposal to earmark 6tmcft of water for Bengaluru’s drinking water needs.
