Bengaluru: Amidst discord between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over Mekedatu project, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa met Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

Gajendra Singh Shekhawat's visit has gained importance in the backdrop of the state government's commitment to the Mekedatu project across river Cauvery. Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai, Chief Secretary Ravi Kumar, Irrigation Minister JC Madhuswamy, and Additional Chief Secretary Rakesh Singh were present.

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Last week, CM BS Yediyurappa wrote a letter to his Tamil Nadu counterpart M.K. Stalin, requesting him not to oppose the Mekedatu dam project. In the letter, the Chief Minister has stated that the proposed project does not affect the interests of the farmers of Tamil Nadu.

Mekedatu is a balancing reservoir –cum drinking water project for Bengaluru City. The proposed project is contemplated to regulate the flow of water to Tamil Nadu as stipulated in the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), CM explained in the letter.

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Early this month, Tamil Nadu Water Resource Minister Durai Murugan had met the Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Delhi. He handed over a representation of the Karnataka government's decision to build a reservoir across the Cauvery river in Mekadatu and other inter-state water disputes.

Congress extends support to Government: KPCC President D.K. Shivakumar, extended support to the state government on the Mekedatu project. He urged political parties to stay united for the Mekedatu cause.

Shivakumar said, "Tamilnadu will keep on creating controversy out of Mekedatu even after 100 years. Present, we are said to have a double engine government. Why not the BJP use it’s power and get approval from the Center, and conduct the ‘Bhumi Puja’ tomorrow itself. We shall keep aside all our political issues and stand with the government."

‘All political parties of Tamil Nadu have a common agenda of opposing the Mekedatu project. Their agenda will remain same even after 100 years. Yediyurappa needs political will power to take up the Mekedatu project. We now have information that the central environment board has issued clearance to this project, " further said Shivakumar.