SC rejects TN plea against K’taka on Mekadatu dam

‘DPR of K’taka will be approved only after considering TN objections’

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY

THE Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain two applications filed by Tamil Nadu against Karnataka’s move to construct a new reservoir at Mekedatu across the interstate river Cauvery calling them ‘premature’.

While the first application challenged the permission granted by the Central Water Commission (CWC) to Karnataka for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR), the second application was against the execution of the Mekedatu project, seeking a direction to the CWC to return the DPR submitted by Karnataka.

The Karnataka government had submitted a DPR regarding the Mekadatu project to the CWC in 2018. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, Justice K Vinod Chandran and Justice NV Anjaria on Thursday said the plan would be approved only after considering the objections of Tamil Nadu as well as the opinion of expert bodies such as the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).