Chennai: Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday passed a resolution unanimously against Karnataka's decision of allocating Rs. 1000 crores for the construction of a reservoir in Mekedatu across the Cauvery river.

Tamil Nadu Minister Durai Murugan brings resolution in Assembly opposing Karnataka's decision to allot money for constructing a reservoir in Mekedatu across Cauvery river without permission,

He also appealed the Centre not to grant permission to the Karnataka government to construct the Mekedatu dam

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP also supported the state government on the Mekedatu dam issue. Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai supported the decision of the government passing a resolution in the Assembly.

While speaking to the media, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran said, "Tamil Nadu BJP will also appeal the Centre not to give clearance for Karnataka to construct a dam across Cauvery river near Mekedatu.

The Mekedatu multi-purpose project involves building a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka. Neighbouring Tamil Nadu is opposed to the project, while Karnataka awaits central clearances and filed the petition in the Supreme Court.

The proposed  Rs 9,000 crore project has aimed at supplying drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas (4.75 TMC) and it can also generate 400 MW power.

In the 2022-23 budget, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has allocated Rs.1000 crore for the Mekedatu project.

The Mekedatu issue has turned into a political fight between the ruling BJP and Congress. Congress has embarked on 9 days padayatra from Mekedatu from Bengaluru in two stretches. Opposition Congress alleged that the ruling BJP has purposefully not implementing the project with eying to expand its party base in Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka has maintained that the project within its territory will benefit both states as the surplus water stored can be managed between the two during a distress year, and its implementation will in no way affect the interests of Tamil Nadu's farming communities, as there will be no impact on its share of water/

However, Tamil Nadu is vehemently opposing the construction of an additional dam near Mekeadatu, it has stated that the project would "impound and divert" the uncontrolled water flow due to Tamil Nadu from Kabini sub-basin, the catchment area below Krishnarajasagara, and also from Simsha, Arkavathy and Suvarnavathi sub-basins besides other small streams.

Siddaramaiah opposes TN decision: Opposition leader Siddaramaiah condemned the resolution of the Tamil Nadu government stated that the proposed project would not harm the interest of Tamil Nadu.

Mr. Siddaramaiah urged the Centre to give permission to take up the project. Since Supreme Court has resolved the matter in 2018 in sharing of water. The Centre was supposed to give environmental clearance for the project, but for a political purpose, it Centre has denied permission for the project, he criticized.