Bangalore, August 22: The State government is planning to build a dam near Mekedatu to generate hydro-electric power, said Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra.
Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, the Minister said that he had a convened a meeting of senior officials from the Water Resources Department and experts on Thursday to discuss the proposal.
Although the proposal was made several years ago, it had not materialised. “There may not be any legal problems, including objections from the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, in utilising additional Cauvery water. There is a possibility of setting up three hydel projects by storing nearly 50 tmcft of water. The water can be used to generate power after which it can be let into Tamil Nadu,” he said.
The Minister said that there was also a possibility of putting to best use the additional water that flows from the Hemavathy into the Krishnaraja Sagar dam.
Drinking water
“There is a possibility of using at least 26 tmcft of water. So far less than 19 tmcft is being used for drinking purposes in and around Tumkur district. This can be done by upgrading and removing silt from the main canal for which nearly Rs. 600 crore is required. If this project is implemented, the drinking water problem in the district can be addressed effectively,” Mr. Jayachandra, who is in-charge of Tumkur district, said.
He added that the State government would seek Central assistance to take up this project and a proposal would be shortly sent to the Union government.
