Will get Centre's approval for Mekedatu dam: Karnataka CM

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Saturday said that the state would get the Centre's approval for the Mekedatu dam water project over the Cauvery river. Bommai's statement comes after K Annamalai, the newly-appointed BJP President in Tamil Nadu, announced that the TN BJP state unit would protest Karnataka's decision to go ahead with the project.

"He (Annamalai) will do his job. That is not related to us. Annamalai going on a fast is not my business," Bommai said. Karnataka has all the rights over the river water and will definitely implement the project, he added. A detailed project report has been prepared and would be submitted to the Centre for approval.

"We will get the approval for it. Let anyone fast or eat," he added.

Tamil Nadu BJP has planned a day-long fast on August 5, protesting Karnataka's decision to kickstart the project. Bommai, who took oath as the Chief Minister of the state on Wednesday after Yediyurappa's resignation, called upon Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on the second day of his visit to Delhi. He also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial Sadaiv Atal.