Bengaluru: The Tamil Nadu government, on Friday, moved the Supreme Court to stay the permission given by the central government to the Karnataka state government to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu reservoir cum drinking water project across river Cauvery. Karnataka’s plan is to construct a reservoir at Mekedatu with a capacity of 67.16tmcft and generation of 400MW power at Rs 5,912 crore.

The TN government, while seeking directions from the Apex Court to the Central Water Commission of the Union water resources ministry to withdraw the letter dated November 22, issued to the managing director of Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Limited, Bengaluru, granting permission for the DPR, also sought directions to Karnataka to maintain status quo till the disposal of the petition.

The TN government contended that the Project Appraisal Directorate of the Central Water Commission (CWC) had granted permission, ignoring the objections of the state to the project.

“The decision (of the CWC) is in total violation and utter disregard to the adjudication rendered by the tribunal as modified by the Supreme Court. The attempt of Karnataka is to increase its storage capacity and enhance its irrigation which would be in gross violation of the decision of the tribunal… besides seriously jeopardising the rights of the inhabitants of Tamil Nadu to the flows of the inter-state river Cauvery,” the petition said.