Chennai:
With the Cauvery water sharing row escalating, government on Friday made it clear that it would not allow construction of a new dam by Karnataka at Mekedhatu across the river under "any circumstances."
Replying to a special mention on the water dispute in the Assembly, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa accused Karnataka of not honouring the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award.
She said Karnataka makes all efforts to first fill its reservoirs and then release only surplus waters to Tamil Nadu.
"I and my government are committed to securing the state's rightful share in the Cauvery waters," she said, amid thumping of desk by the members.
She said Karnataka cannot build a dam at Mekedhatu, about 100 km from Bangalore, without Tamil Nadu's acceptance. "If Karnataka tries to build a dam, Tamil Nadu will not allow the move under any circumstances."
Her assertion comes in the backdrop of tough postures being adopted by Karnataka leaders on the release of water from Cauvery to Tamil Nadu.
Accusing Karnataka of using water from its dams for summer irrigation, she said, as per the final orders of the Tribunal, Karnataka had used 203 thousand million cubic feet of water for irrigation as against the stipulated 103.24 thousand million cubic feet of water.
"Karnataka is also not giving water to Tamil Nadu for its Kuruvai cultivation (short term) in June and July," she said.
"Since Karnataka was utilising water for its summer crops, during monsoon that state took efforts to fill its reservoirs and then released water to Tamil Nadu, resulting in Mettur dam in the state not getting its due share," she added.