An Agreement was entered into between the then State of Mysore & Madras (presently State of Karnataka and State of Tamil Nadu) in 1892 with reference to taking up new irrigation works across the rivers, mentioned in Schedules A, B and C of the Annexure to the Agreement. Under Schedule-A, Cauvery river is mentioned as 10th item and its tributaries in Karnataka, viz., Hemavathi, Lakshmanthirtha, Kabani, Honhole (or Suvamavati), Yagachi, upto Belur Bridge) are mentioned as 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th item respectively.

Clause III of the said Agreement reads as below:-

"When the Mysore Government desires to construct any "New irrigation Reservoir" or any new anicut requiring the previous consent of the Madras Government under the last preceding Rule, the full information regarding the proposed work shall be forwarded to the Madras Government and the consent of that Government shall be obtained previous to the actual commencement of work. The Madras Government shall be bound not to refuse such consent except for the protection of prescriptive right, already acquired and actually existing, the existence, extent and nature of such right and the mode of exercising it being in every case determined in accordance with the law on the subject of prescriptive right to use of water and in accordance with what is fair and reasonable under all the circumstances of each individual case. "

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). 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.

Thereafter DPR of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to CWC by Government of Karnataka in January 2019 and copies of DPR were forwarded to Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for obtaining consent of co-basin States for acceptability of the DPR.

The Govt of Karnataka vide letter dated 20.7.2021 have conveyed that the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu vide letter dated 04.07.2021 has requested the State of Karnataka not to take up Mekedatu project.

           This information was given by the Union Minister for Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat   in a written  reply in Rajya Sabha  today.

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AS/SK

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