Mandya: Congress MLA Ganiga Ravikumar on Tuesday defended Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project and asserted that no political force from Tamil Nadu could prevent its implementation.
MLA Rejects Tamil Nadu's Opposition
Reacting to the opposition from Tamil Nadu against the project, the Mandya MLA said the Supreme Court already directed that issues relating to the project be addressed through the Cauvery Management Board. He stated that Karnataka completed the preparation of the detailed project report (DPR) and is moving ahead with the project in accordance with legal procedures.
He said that even if "a hundred leaders like Vijay" become chief minister of Tamil Nadu, they would not be able to stop the construction of the dam within Karnataka. Referring to actor-politician Vijay, Ravikumar said Tamil Nadu has every right to demand its allocated share of Cauvery water, which Karnataka is already releasing as per legal directives, but has no authority to oppose a project being executed within Karnataka's jurisdiction.
Criticism of Actor-Politician Vijay
Ravikumar said Vijay is relatively new to politics and may not yet fully understand the legal and constitutional aspects surrounding interstate river water disputes. He emphasized that Karnataka is committed to following the law and will not be deterred by political posturing from the neighboring state.
BJP Accused of Double Standards
Taking a dig at the Bharatiya Janata Party, Ravikumar accused the party of adopting double standards on interstate water disputes. He said that while the BJP supports Karnataka's interests on certain occasions, it opposes the Kalasa-Banduri project in Goa despite being in power there.
The MLA's comments come amid heightened tensions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Mekedatu project, which aims to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and generate hydroelectric power. Karnataka has maintained that the project is within its rights and necessary for its development.
