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Mekedatu Dam Project
Context:
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary has called on the Union government to reject Karnataka’s proposal to construct a dam across the Cauvery River at Mekedatu.
More on News:
- He emphasised that the project would severely impact the livelihoods of farmers in Tamil Nadu’s delta region.
- The Mekedatu dam project, located about 100 km from Bengaluru, has become a focal point of controversy between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
About Mekedatu Dam:
- It is designed to provide Bengaluru with over 4 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water, which has become a major political and environmental issue.
- Location: Near Mekedatu in Kanakapura, Ramanagara district, Karnataka.
- Objective: The project aims to construct two dams across the Cauvery River.
- Purpose: The proposed multi-purpose project, which includes a balancing reservoir aims to address both drinking water needs and power generation.
- The estimated cost of the project is around Rs 14,000 crores and it will cover an area of over 5,000 hectares.
- Tamil Nadu opposes the project and claims it will affect its farmers.
- The project will submerge around 4,996 hectares, including forest land.
- Mekedatu is part of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, home to endangered species like the Deccan Mahsheer and the oriental small-clawed otter.
- Alternative Proposals: Reviving other water projects, like the Rasimanal reservoir in Tamil Nadu, as a solution that could satisfy Bengaluru’s needs while addressing Tamil Nadu’s concerns.