Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha's no to Karnataka hydel projects on Cauvery

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.

"In the absence of such a monitoring mechanism, the stand of the Minister of the Government of Karnataka that there is no impediment to execute the scheme of construction of a reservoir as the final order has been notified is wholly untenable and is against all principles of federalism," Ms Jayalalithaa said.

She also referred to Tamil Nadu government's interlocutory application in the Supreme Court to restrain Karnataka from executing the Shivasamudram and Mekedatu hydroelectric projects by themselves. And to direct the Centre to execute the Shivsamudram, Mekedatu, Hogenekkal and Rasimanal hydel projects as a package through the National Hydro Power Corporation Ltd or any other appropriate Central Power Generation utility so as to derive maximum benefits of the power potential.

"The civil appeals as well as the interlocutory application are pending in the Supreme Court and therefore the entire matter is sub judice," she said.

Ms Jayalalithaa also referred to her repeated requests to Singh to instruct the Ministry of Water Resources to constitute the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, for ensuring the effective implementation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final order, which was yet to be acceded to.