Tamil Nadu will gain from Mekedatu dam, says Karnataka Deputy CM Shivakumar
Stating that a favourable monsoon system this time has been a solace to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Tuesday claimed that Tamil Nadu stood to gain from the Mekedatu dam project in his state.
Referring to the copious inflows into the Cauvery river, which led to the neighbouring state release the surplus water to Tamil Nadu, he told reporters here that the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project would benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka.
Responding to a question from reporters on Tamil Nadu’s opposition to the controversial dam project, Shivakumar, who was in the city to study Chennai’s model of solid waste management, replied that “the Mekedatu balancing reservoir would benefit Tamil Nadu more.”
“But I don’t want to discuss the Mekedatu dam issue now. Rain god has helped both the states. Let good sense prevail upon Tamil Nadu people …Mekedatu dam will benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka,” he said.
Shivakumar was on a visit to Chennai with a team of over 15 officials to inspect the solid waste management and see how compressed natural gas (CNG) is produced.
The Deputy CM, who later held a detailed meeting with Chennai Mayor R Priya and senior officials of Greater Chennai Corporation during his visit, told reporters that Karnataka hoped to get relief from the court on the dam project.
“I appeal to the Tamil Nadu government and also the leaders of political parties… The Mekedatu dam, if implemented, will be more beneficial to Tamil Nadu than Karnataka,” Shivakumar stressed.
Karnataka, he said, will respect the court verdict on the Mekedatu project.
Asked about an RTI reply stating that Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office spends nearly Rs 54 lakh per month to maintain his official and personal social media accounts, Shivakumar initially replied, “I don’t want to comment about it.”
But he said, “we are a big government. ….social media is taking a very big role apart from the regular media. It is quite natural we have to promote government policies. It is not a big issue. Political parties spend such an amount. Being a party president, I know how much we spend from the party,” he said.