Bengaluru: Signalling an aggressive push to safeguard Karnataka’s case on the contentious Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across river Cauvery, Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Monday directed officials to plug every possible and potential technical loophole that could be exploited by the neighbouring Tamil Nadu before the Supreme Court.Chairing the Standing Committee meeting of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said Tamil Nadu was attempting to stall the project by raising “minor technical pretexts” and cautioned officials against leaving any procedural or legal vulnerability unaddressed. He ordered a comprehensive review of the project proposal and instructed departments to immediately rectify any shortcomings that could weaken Karnataka’s defence in court.The directive assumes significance as Karnataka intensifies efforts to secure clearance for the long-pending project, which is intended to provide potable water to the fast growing Bengaluru while generating hydroelectric power. The Standing Committee of the State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) approved forwarding the proposal to drill 20 borewells of six-inch diameter for soil testing for the Mekedatu project within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary to the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) for final clearance. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the reservoir, contending that it could affect downstream flows in the Cauvery basin within the Tamil Nadu.The review of Mekedatu reportedly popped-up amid deliberations on wildlife conservation, where senior forest officials also briefed the CM on ecological concerns surrounding the project landscape. During the meeting, Shivakumar also cleared the way for resumption of safari and eco-tourism activities in Bandipur and Nagarahole National Parks, directing that operations restart only after stringent safety protocols are put in place. Officials informed the committee that tiger and leopard populations are denser inside designated safari zones than in areas witnessing severe human-wildlife conflict.
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar chairing the Standing Committee meeting of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board in Bengaluru
Forest officials further attributed the rising incidence of wildlife straying into Ramanagara and Channapatna to the disruption of traditional animal corridors by the Bengaluru-Mysuru access controlled highway executed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). They also pointed out that mandatory wildlife underpasses and overpasses stipulated during the approval of the highway project were not fully implemented, leading to habitat fragmentation and increased conflict.The Chief Minister also instructed civic authorities to urgently identify and remove hazardous trees and branches across the Greater Bengaluru Area (GBA) after committee members flagged poor compliance with earlier directions despite repeated incidents of trees collapsing during heavy rain and strong winds.
