At South CMs’ meet, Shivakumar defends Mekedatu project, says ‘water should not divide us’

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday (August 20) defended the Mekedatu dam project and said it would benefit three states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Speaking at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, where southern Chief Ministers were participating, Shivakumar said “water should unite us, not divide us.”

The proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River aims to provide drinking water to Bengaluru city.

'Help us, and we will help you'

Shivakumar said the project is not only important for Karnataka but Tamil Nadu too.

“Mekedatu is an important project not only for Karnataka but also for Tamil Nadu. While coming to the meeting, senior leaders and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu told me that we need to resolve the Cauvery water issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. I assure you that every drop of water released through the Mekedatu project will benefit farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Help us, and we will help you,” he said.

Also read: Cauvery row: TN farmers hopeful as SC directs Karnataka to heed CWMA order

“There is no resource more important to every state than water. Our rivers do not recognise political boundaries. The Cauvery (Mekedatu), Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Palar rivers are the lifelines of all the southern states. Water should unite us, not divide us. The time has now come to move from water sharing to water co-operation,” he added.

Shivkumar on delimitation

At the meeting, Shivakumar also urged the Southern Zonal Council to pass a resolution asking the Centre to use the 1971 Census as the basis for delimitation and retain the existing 543 Lok Sabha seats for the next 25 years.

He also sought women’s reservation within these 543 seats, saying southern states should not be punished for successfully controlling their population.

Shivakumar said representation was not only about numbers but also about political influence and voice. “Our success should never become a reason to weaken our voice. Our political voice should be in proportion to our economic contribution,” he said, adding that the 1971 population basis should be respected and the total number of Lok Sabha seats should not be changed.

Also read: South’s economic weight must match its political voice: Shivakumar at CMs’ meet

The Congress leader also said women’s reservation should not be delayed because of the delimitation exercise.

His demand comes amid concerns among southern states that population-based delimitation could reduce their parliamentary representation compared with states with higher populations.

Shah responds

On the issue of delimitation raised by Shivakumar, Shah said it was a political issue raised by the Congress party and should not be mixed with the deliberations of the Southern Zonal Council.

“It is a political issue. Let’s not mix it here,” Shah said.

Shivakumar also raised concerns over the manner in which Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds were being spent by private companies and government-owned corporations. He suggested that there should be a policy or rule under which the state government could decide where CSR funds should be utilised, based on local priorities.

“They do business in one state and invest elsewhere. We have priorities in education and health, and as such, the state government should decide where they spend and how,” he said.

Also read: TN CM voices delimitation fears, wants Centre to assure it won’t hurt South

Responding to the issue, Shah said he partially agreed with Shivakumar’s suggestion and asked him to engage with the heads of government-owned corporations.

“Ever since we came to power, we have not made any political appointments in PSUs, as only IAS officers are heading them. You have a good rapport with the officers; you should speak to them. I will also talk to them,” Shah said.

Concern over PSU lands

Shivakumar also raised a broader concern over lands allotted by state governments to PSUs and other institutions free of cost as part of the nation-building process being subsequently sold or auctioned without the consent of the government.

“Today morning, I got a call from my officials that ITI, which has become non-functional, is auctioning land. We give lands to PSUs, and when they are shut down or go out of business, they auction the lands. Such lands should be returned to the government, as we have given them the land. As a state government, we will go to court and stop this and also not give permission to develop these lands,” he said.

The Chief Minister said there were several instances where beneficiaries were disposing of land parcels without obtaining the concurrence of the appropriate state authorities.

He termed such disposal a misuse of resources provided to institutions in the larger interest of nation-building and said state governments should have a say in the utilisation or disposal of such land.

Responding to Shivakumar’s concern, Shah said the issue was a matter of policy and should be raised with the Union Government.

Upper Bhadra project

Shivakumar urged Shah to expedite the release of Rs 5,300 crore promised by the Centre for the Upper Bhadra project, saying the delay was affecting its implementation.

He said the funds had been announced by the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman (in Union Budget 2023-24) during the tenure of the previous BJP government in Karnataka but had not yet been released.

“The Finance Minister had announced Rs 5,300 crore for the Upper Bhadra project in the Union Budget during (Basavaraj) Bommai period. Even after being declared in Parliament, this money has not been allocated, thereby affecting the project. I request you to kindly expedite the release of the funds,” he urged Shah.