Current Affairs:(Geography of India and World, Geological Phenomena & Climate Change)

What is the Mekedatu project?

About the Mekedatu project:

Karnataka intends to build a reservoir across river Cauvery near Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk. It was first proposed along with Shivanasamudra hydro power project at Shimsa in 2003 with an intention to use the water for a hydro power station and supply drinking water to Bengaluru city.
However, Tamil Nadu objected saying the Karnataka government had sought prior permission for the project. Its argument was that the project would affect flow of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
On March 27, Tamil Nadu adopted a resolution urging the Centre to stop Karnataka from going ahead with the project. The Karnataka government stated that it will not go by the whims and fancies of Tamil Nadu and said that it will use only the excess water after supplying 192 tmcft to Tamil Nadu as per the Cauvery water tribunal.
According to experts, Mekedaatu, located at about 110 km from Bengaluru, could address the city's growing thirst in the near future provided neighbouring Tamil Nadu does not spoil Karnataka's chances.
Following green signal by the legal experts, the state government has decided to develop a 'Balancing Reservoir' or 'Mini KRS' (Krishna Raja Sagar reservoir near Mysuru) near Mekedaatu for supplying potable water to Bengaluru and parts of Mysuru region in the near future.
Running out of options to meet the growing potable water requirement of IT capital of the country, the state government was contemplating various alternatives other than Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir to quench the thirst of Bangaloreans. But an in-house study by the major irrigation department seems to have discovered solutions to water Bengaluru in the next decade.

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