Lok Sabha Question No. 819 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-02
Subject: Mekedatu Project
Ministry: JAL SHAKTI
Asked by: Prajwal Revanna

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI, DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 819

ANSWERED ON 02.12.2021

## MEKEDATU PROJECT

## 819.    SHRI PRAJWAL REVANNA

Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Union Government proposes to grant Terms of Reference (ToR) to Mekedatu multipurpose drinking water and power project of the Government of Karnataka if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(b)  whether  the  Government  of  Tamil  Nadu  disclosed  to  party  States  particularly  Karnataka  w.r.t undertaking of Mayanur or Kattalai barrage project, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor; and

(c) whether the Government of Karnataka undertake the Mekedatu multi-purpose project within its territory and water share allocation on the lines of Tamil Nadu Mayanur or Kattalai barrage project and if so, the details thereof alongwith the stand of Union Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI

## (SHRI BISHWESWAR TUDU)

(a)  The  proposal  of  Mekedatu  Balancing  Reservoir  cum  Drinking  Water  Project  submitted  by  Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited, Government of Karnataka to Ministry of Environment and Forests & Climate Change (MoEF&CC) was considered during 25 th Meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) for River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects held on 19.07.2019. The EAC deferred the project inter-alia stating that there were representations received from the Tamil Nadu State Government requesting not to grant ToR (Terms  of  Reference)  to  the  present  proposal.  The  EAC  opined  that  an  amicable  solution  be  arrived  at between the two states and thereafter the matter may be put up for reconsideration for grant of ToR.

As the inter-state issue is involved, Terms of Reference (ToR) has not been accorded yet to this proposal by MoEF&CC.

(b) As per information made available by the Government of Karnataka vide its letter dated 30.11.2021 it is informed that State of Tamil Nadu has taken up execution of Cauvery-South Vellar-Vaigai-Gundar Link (CVG Link) Canal project to divert surplus water from Kattalai barrage (Mayanur barrage) across Cauvery river. However, the Government of Karnataka has also mentioned that Tamil Nadu did not disclose either the  construction  of  Mayanur  or  Kattalai  barrage in 2014 across Cauvery river or the undertaking of CVG

link for execution for transfer of surplus water of Cauvery through the instant link. Further, Government of Karnataka has informed that Karnataka has not received so far any project reports from Tamil Nadu in this regard.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) was notified on 1 June, 2018, subsequent to the  Supreme  Court's  order  in  this  regard  to  give  effect  to  the  decision  of  the  Cauvery  Water  Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court vide its order dated the 16th February, 2018.

(c) The Government of Tamil Nadu vide letter dated 30.11.2021 has informed that the Kattalai barrage at Mayanur was constructed instead of the old structure and is a diversion structure with practically no storage, for improved regulation, involving no additional ayacut/utilization.

The Feasibility Report (FR) of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to Central Water Commission (CWC) by Government of Karnataka for according "in-principle" clearance  for  preparation  of  Detailed  Project  Report  (DPR)  of  the  project.  The  Screening  Committee  of Central  Water  Commission  in  its  meeting  held  on  24.10.2018  accorded  'in-principle'  clearance  for preparation of DPR by project authority (Government of Karnataka) subject to certain conditions including that: ' As the main objective of this scheme as stated in the FR is to implement the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal(CWDT)  Award  as  modified  by  the  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court,  acceptance  of  Cauvery  Water Management Authority (CWMA) would be a pre-requisite for consideration of the DPR by the  Advisory Committee of MoWR, RD & GR '.

Subsequently,  the  DPR  of  Mekedatu  Balancing  Reservoir  cum  Drinking  Water  Project  was submitted by Government of Karnataka to Central Water Commission (CWC) in January 2019 and copies of  DPR  were  forwarded  to  Cauvery  Water  Management  Authority  (CWMA).  Further,  as  per  the  DPR submitted in January 2019 to Central Water Commission (CWC), the project inter-alia envisages meeting drinking water requirement of Bengaluru Metropolitan Region to the extent of 4.75 TMC and its adjoining area,  power  generation  of  400  MW  and  to  regulate  the  required  quantum  of  water  to  Tamil  Nadu  on  a monthly basis (in a normal year) as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India vide its Judgment dated 16.02.2018.

According to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on 16.02.2018, the allocation of Cauvery water to Karnataka is 284.75 TMC.

Discussion on the DPR of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project project was  included  as  an  agenda  item  during  various  meetings  of  Cauvery  Water  Management  Authority. However, discussion on this issue could not take place due to lack consensus among party States on this agenda item.

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