Tamil Nadu to move SC over Karnataka's Mekedatu project: CM

Chennai: Terming Mullaperiyar dam dispute with Kerala a "settled issue", Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday said it would approach the Supreme Court to seek stalling of Karnataka government's attempt to construct two dams near Mekedatu across the Cauvery river.

Responding to DMK president M Karunanidhi demand for convening an Assembly session over the Mullaperiyar dam and Mekedatu issues, Chief Minister O Panneerselvam said the state is filing a case in the Supreme Court today to stall dam construction by Karnataka.

There was no need to pass a resolution in the state Assembly to increase the height of Mullaperiyar dam to store water in the light of Supreme Court upholding Tamil Nadu's rights on water level, he said.

While the Supreme Court has given its consent that water can be stored up to 142-feet level in Mullaiperiyar dam, water storage in the dam was being regularised, keeping in mind the water management.

"Implementing the Supreme Court judgement is everyone's duty.. No letter has been written to the Prime Minister because Mullaperiyar issue is a settled issue," the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said.

On the Cauvery water issue with Karnataka, he recalled his letters to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking his intervention to advise Karnataka not to go ahead with the project.