Cauvery is a 'life' issue, will not allow Mekedatu at any cost, says TN Minister Duraimurugan
Chennai (PTI): The Cauvery water sharing is not some ordinary matter but a 'life' issue and Tamil Nadu will not allow the construction of a dam across the inter-state river at Mekedatu by Karnataka, state minister Duraimurugan said here on Thursday.
He was speaking to reporters early today upon his arrival from New Delhi after meeting Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Shekhawat over the Cauvery issue. TN has flagged the lower realisation from the inter-state river with the Centre.
The Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister pointed out at his state receiving lesser quantum of water from the Cauvery river as of July 3 and said if the situation continues the short-term 'kuruvai crops' in the delta districts may be affected.
To protect the crops in the Cauvery Delta districts in the state, Karnataka has to release water from the river and for this purpose, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) "has to hold talks with Karnataka or order it to do so," he said, adding this request was conveyed to Shekhawat.
Duraimurugan said the union minister asked officials to take steps to immediately convene the CWMA.
"This (Cauvery) is not an ordinary issue, it is a life issue and I have clearly told this to the (central) minister," he said.
Further, the Karnataka government was also duty-bound to adhere to the Supreme Court verdict on water-sharing.
To a question on Karnataka's proposal for constructing a balancing reservoir across Cauvery at Mekedatu, he said "even if they hold talks, or write to us, Tamil Nadu will never give consent for the construction of the dam."
On TN BJP chief K Annamalai's statement that his party will stage "Go back Stalin," protest against the state Chief Minister if he attends the opposition parties' meet at Bengaluru later this month in the backdrop of the ongoing Cauvery dispute, Duraimurugan, said, "that is their wish."
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Jammu: Heatwave alert for 5 districts
Srinagar (PTI): The Meteorological department on Sunday issued a heatwave alert for five districts of the Jammu region. The weather is expected to remain pleasant in the rest of the union territory over the next five days.
"Hot and dry weather is likely to continue in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Reasi and Udhampur districts during the next two days with heat wave conditions at a few places on 26-27 April," an Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official said.
The official noted that people should avoid heat exposure during peak hours and advised them to stay hydrated.
In Kashmir, the weather is expected to remain pleasant and dry with the possibility of light rain at some places over the next 48 hours.
"One or two spells of light rain or thunder may occur at many places with gusty winds or hailstorm at a few places towards evening on April 27 and 28.
The weather will be generally dry on April 29 and 30," he added.
The maximum temperature in Kashmir has been hovering around 17-22 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature recorded last night was around nine degrees Celsius.
