Mekedatu: We utilise water being wasted, will talk to Tamil Nadu, says Karnataka CM

Speaking on the construction of a balancing reservoir at Mekedatu on the Cauvery, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has said that he is ready to speak to his counterpart in Tamil Nadu in this regard. "I have no problem arranging a meeting with Tamil Nadu to discuss the problem of my farmers. If need be, I can even go to Tamil Nadu and hold talks regarding the construction of the reservoir at Mekedatu. This will help us use the water which is wasted, which flows into the sea," he said.

Kumaraswamy added that his government has requested to Union Water Resource Minister Nitin Gadkari to hold a joint meeting with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the issue of the Mekedatu reservoir.

The problem started when Tamil Nadu objected to Karnataka's reservoir plan and said it would affect the flow of the Cauvery into their State. Tamil nadu complained further that Karnataka had not taken a prior permission from them before starting the project. The project is on hold currently.

However, in Karnataka's plea to the Cauvery Water Tribunal, it claimed that it would use 192 tmfc of water that is flowing into the sea and that was not being used by Tamil Nadu.