Tamil Nadu House passes resolution against nod for dam

 Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday adopted a resolution unanimously urging the Centre to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for obtaining a detailed project report for its proposed dam across river Cauvery at Mekedatu.

A specially convened session of the assembly passed the resolution moved by Chief Minister K Palaniswami Thursday evening after a brief discussion.  It urged the Union Ministry of Water Resources "to immediately order the Central Water Commission to withdraw the permission given to Karnataka for preparing the DPR."

"...this House requests the Government of India to direct Karnataka not to take up any construction works by it or through its agencies at Mekedatu or at any other place in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka State... without the consent of Tamil Nadu...," the resolution said. The assembly was adjourned sine die after the adoption of the resolution.

The session was convened following demands by the opposition parties led by the DMK, which had organised a protest on the issue Tuesday in Tiruchirappalli.
The AIADMK government and the opposition parties have opposed the Centre's nod for the DPR, holding that the proposed dam would affect the rights of the lower riparian Tamil Nadu.

Palaniswami had recently written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi drawing his attention to Tamil Nadu's opposition and seeking withdrawal of the permission given to Karnataka.