Vijay urges Modi to review Govt's Mekedatu dam stand, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the Union government's stance on the proposed Mekedatu dam project.
• Vijay argued that a recent parliamentary reply by the Ministry of Jal Shakti overlooked settled legal principles for interstate rivers and downstream states' rights.
• The CM emphasized that the Mekedatu project must adhere to the legal framework established by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court.
• He cited the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment and the Alamatti dam dispute ruling, stressing the need for consent from riparian states.

Detailed Insights:

• The Mekedatu dam is a proposed multi-purpose balancing reservoir by Karnataka across the Cauvery River, intended for drinking water and power generation.
• Tamil Nadu's objection stems from concerns that the project would affect its share of water, especially during distress years.
• The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Final Award, affirmed by the Supreme Court in 2018, governs the allocation of Cauvery waters among riparian states.
• Vijay highlighted that the CWDT Award limits states' powers to regulate waters within their territory in a manner consistent with the Tribunal's order.
• He referenced Clause XI of the Award, which prohibits upper riparian states from affecting scheduled deliveries without mutual agreement and regulatory authority consultation.
• The Central Water Commission (CWC) had previously returned Karnataka's Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu project for revision in 2019.
• The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) was established in 2018 to implement the Supreme Court's modified CWDT award.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Mekedatu Dam Project: A proposed multi-purpose balancing reservoir by Karnataka across the Cauvery River for drinking water and power generation.
• Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT): A tribunal constituted under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to adjudicate the Cauvery River water dispute.
• Riparian Rights: Legal rights of landowners whose property abuts a river or other body of water, concerning the use of that water.
• Central Water Commission (CWC): A technical organization under the Ministry of Jal Shakti responsible for water resources development and project appraisal.
• Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA): A statutory body established to implement the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award as modified by the Supreme Court.