The Karnataka government on Friday filed a counter to Tamil Nadu's application in the Supreme Court seeking to restrain Karnataka from proceeding with its detailed project report (DPR) in the Mekedatu reservoir-cum-drinking water project.
In the counter affidavit filed by IM Bangaraswamy, chief engineer with the Water Resources Development Organisation in Karnataka, he alleged that the application filed by the Tamil Nadu government was made with the intention of preventing Karnataka from preparing the DPR on the project over the Cauvery river.
"The above application has been filed with the malafide intention of preventing the state of Karnataka from preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and filing the same before the Central Water Commission (CWC) for its approval. The application is not at all maintanable. The state of TN has filed the application merely on apprehension without producing any materials to demonstrate that if the Mekedatu project is constructed, its monthly scheduled releases will be jeopardised," reads the affidavit.
It further stated that, "The application (by Tamil Nadu government) is false, frivolous, vexatious, and not maintainable in law or facts."
The application by the Tamil Nadu government had sought a stay on the preparation of the DPR and the construction of the two reservoirs at Mekedatu across river Cauvery planned by the Karnataka government. It had argued that the proposed reservoir would affect the natural flow of the river Cauvery.
Tamil Nadu is the lower riparian state into which the Cauvery river flows. MPs from both DMK and AIADMK, who are bitter rivals in their state, have urged the central government to withdraw permission for the DPR being prepared by the Karnataka government. On Friday, MPs from both parties staged a walk-out in the Rajya Sabha over the government's inaction over the issue.