Lok Sabha Debates
Need To Instruct Karnataka Government Not To Take Up New Projects In The Cauvery ... on 4 September, 2013
> Title: Need to instruct Karnataka Government not to take up new projects in the Cauvery Basin.
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI (KARUR): Madam, thank you very much. Already I have given the notice for Adjournment Motion regarding the Cauvery river issue. This is a very important issue.… (Interruptions)
अध्यक्ष महोदया : आप सभी डा. तम्बिदुरई की बात को सुनिए।
…( व्यवधान)
DR. M. THAMBIDURAI : Madam, our hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu has written D.O. Letters to the hon. Prime Minister regarding the Cauvery river issue. It is a very serious matter. I wish to bring, through you, to the urgent notice of the Union Government an important issue related to the proposals of the Government of Karnataka to build reservoirs across the river Cauvery at Mekedatu for generation of hydroelectric power.
Also, Madam, another important issue is this. Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited, a Government of Karnataka Enterprise, has put out advertisements in newspapers inviting Expression of Interest for the restoration and rejuvenation of river Arkavathy and for the modernization of the Hemavathy canals. If the proposals are taken like this, it will affect Tamil Nadu. In this connection, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister has written to the Prime Minister to take necessary action and stop the Karnataka Government not to construct this kind of a new project; and without the consent of Tamil Nadu Government, Karnataka Government must not take up new projects on the river Cauvery.
Also, Madam, in a federal structure, no upper riparian State can unilaterally interfere with the natural flow of an inter-State river without the consent and concurrence of the lower riparian State.
Under the circumstances, I would request the Government of India to intervene in the matter and advise the Government of Karnataka and its Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited not to proceed with any projects in the Cauvery Basin till the Cauvery Management Board is formed. Further, the Government of Karnataka may be instructed to advise the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited appropriately to withhold the Invitation for Expression of Interest called for by it for these two projects and also not to call for any Invitation for Expression of Interest for the projects of Karnataka lying in the Cauvery Basin till the Cauvery Management Board is formed and request the Government of India to form the Cauvery Management Board immediately and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee as suggested by the hon. Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu… (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER:
Shri S.S. Ramasubbu, Shri P. Lingam and Shri P.L. Punia are allowed to associate with the issue raised by Dr. M. Thambidurai. … (Interruptions)
MADAM SPEAKER: Only what Shri T.R Baalu is saying will go in record. (Interruptions) … * SHRI T.R. BAALU (SRIPERUMBUDUR): Madam, the farmers of Tiruchirappalli ThanjavurThiruvarur Nagapattinam and Pudukottai are depending on the Cauvery water. MADAM SPEAKER: No, you wanted to speak on Katchatheevu. You please come on Katchatheevu. SHRI T.R. BAALU : They have already lost the first crop, kuruvai crop. Now they are depending upon the second crop, that is samba crop. MADAM SPEAKER: Come on Katchatheevu, Baalu ji.
SHRI T.R. BAALU : Yesterday, the Law Minister of Karnataka Government has gone on record to construct dams across Cauvery. It is against lower riparian rights.… (Interruptions) MADAM SPEAKER: No. You please speak on Katchatheevu.
… (Interruptions)
SHRI T.R. BAALU : No, Madam. I have given a notice on the Cauvery issue… (Interruptions) It is on the same issue, Madam. … (Interruptions) MADAM SPEAKER: No. … (Interruptions)
SHRI T.R. BAALU : My leader, Dr. Kalaignar Karunanidhi was in power as the Chief Minister. … (Interruptions) He opposed the construction of dams at Megadadu in Karnataka and written to the Government of India for intervention to stop them. … (Interruptions) MADAM SPEAKER: All right. Thank you.
… (Interruptions)
11.35 hrs At this stage, Shri Suresh Angadi, Shri P. Kumar, Shri T.K.S. Elangovan, Shri R. Thamaraiselvan and some other hon. Members came and stood on the floor near the Table.
MADAM SPEAKER: Shri Syed Shahnawaz Hussain.
… (Interruptions)