Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami writes to PM Modi, urges to deny permission to Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has written a letter to Prime Minister Modi urging him to deny permission to proposal of Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Niyamita.

In the two page letter, Palaniswami has urged the Prime Minister for his personal intervention. He has also asked the PM to deny grant to Terms of Reference for Environmental Clearence clearence for Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project.  He said that the move violates the Final Order of Cauvery water disputes and also the judgement of the Supreme Court of India.

He urged the Prime Minister to reject the proposal:

"I request you to direct the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to reject the outright proposal of Karnataka." he said

READ | DMK Stages Protests, State Government Performs 'Yajna' As Water Crisis Worsen In Tamil Nadu

Here's Palaniswami's letter:

Palaniswami strongly conveyed his message and said that his government has been voicing out the objection against the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir. In additon, he also mentioned that the detailed report on the said project of Karnataka should be retained. In his letter to the PM, Palaniswami again stressed his efforts by saying that the Mekedatu project did not comply with the Supreme Court order.

Pointing out that the move will affect other states, the Tamil Nadu CM said that Cauvery was a deficit basin and hence it would drastically affect other states when it comes to acquiring their share of water.

Meanwhile, MK Stalin led DMK held protests in Jafferkhanpet area against the state government. People are still struggling to get water even as Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) on Friday chaired a high-level meeting to find a solution for the problem.

The main opposition in the state, DMK has been protesting against the Tamil Nadu government's inaction to solve the water scarcity. However, the state government in Tamil Nadu is conducting Yajna at various places including at Patteeswar temple in Coimbatore praying for rain. AIADMK organised a 'yagna' at Arulmigu Gangadeeswarar temple in Purasawalkam, Chennai praying for rain.

State Minister D. Jayakumar, said,

"A drought-like situation is prevailing, in this context, we went to the almighty & performed special prayers for rain."

Union Minister Sadananda Gowda Writes To Centre And Cauvery Board Requesting An Additional Release Of 2 Thousand Million Cubic Feet Water To Drought-ridden Mandya District. Read Letter Here

The state of Tamil Nadu, especially cities like Chennai are facing acute water scarcity for almost two months now. The city is provided from four reservoirs - Poondi, Chembarambakkam, Puzhal and Cholavaram whose capacities have dipped below 1% of the demand hence fail to supply water to Chennai. The city receives its water from its three main desalination plants and other tankers and pipelines.