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Tamil Nadu chief minister O Panneerselvam has said a petition would be filed in the Supreme Court asking for a stay on Karnataka’s plans to construct dams across the river Cauvery. The Tamil Nadu government has also asked the Prime Minister to direct the state government to withhold the expression of interest (EoI) in this regard.
In a statement, the chief minister said a petition was filed in the Supreme Court on Tuesday asking for a stay on Karnataka’s plans to construct two dams across the river Cauvery under the guise of drinking water schemes.
He said a letter had been sent to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to advise the Karnataka government to withhold the EoI for its dam projects across the Cauvery.
Panneerselvam has also urged Modi to instruct the environment and forests, and water resources ministries not to give clearance to any project posed by Karnataka without consulting Tamil Nadu.
The EoI is for a technical feasibility study to build two reservoirs at Mekedatu in Karnataka, according to the chief minister. He urged Karnataka not to take any steps to execute any irrigation, hydro power, lift irrigation schemes or any other scheme in the guise of drinking water supply in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka without their consent.
