Mekedatu Dam Row Escalates… Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Writes to PM Modi Challenging Centre’s Stand on Karnataka Project

The political and legal battle over the proposed Mekedatu Dam Project has intensified after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, challenging the Centre’s recent statement that Karnataka does not require the consent of other Cauvery basin states to construct the project.

The letter was sent a day after Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary informed the Rajya Sabha that the Supreme Court’s 2018 Cauvery water judgment did not contain any specific provision requiring Karnataka to obtain approval from lower riparian states, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, before building a structure across the Cauvery river.

Reacting strongly to the Centre’s statement, Vijay said the reply appeared to overlook the “prevailing legal position” related to the rights of downstream states.

Vijay Challenges Centre’s Interpretation of Supreme Court Verdict

In his communication to the Prime Minister, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister argued that the issue cannot be decided only by looking for an explicit consent clause in the 2018 Supreme Court judgment.

Vijay referred to earlier legal disputes, including the Almatti Dam case involving Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, stating that projects capable of impacting river flows must consider the interests and consent of downstream states.

Citing the Supreme Court’s observations in the case, Vijay maintained that an upper riparian state cannot undertake major river projects without considering the concerns of other states sharing the river system.

Cauvery Tribunal Award at the Centre of Dispute

The Tamil Nadu government has also highlighted provisions under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award, arguing that the rules established by the tribunal continue to protect the rights of all basin states.

Vijay pointed towards Clause XVIII of the tribunal award, which allows states to regulate water usage within their territories only if such actions remain consistent with the tribunal’s directions.

According to Tamil Nadu’s argument, any project that could alter the regulated flow of the Cauvery river must be examined carefully to ensure that downstream water allocations are not affected.

The Centre, however, has relied on the same clause to argue that the 2018 Supreme Court judgment does not specifically mandate Karnataka to seek consent from other states before constructing the reservoir.

Tamil Nadu Raises Concerns Over Water Flow Impact

Tamil Nadu has repeatedly opposed Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir, claiming that the project could influence the timing and quantity of Cauvery water reaching the state.

In his letter, Vijay referred to the tribunal’s decision regarding Kerala’s Pambar hydroelectric project, where coordination between Kerala and Tamil Nadu was required to ensure that downstream irrigation interests were not affected.

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He argued that the example demonstrates the importance of cooperation between river-sharing states rather than unilateral decisions.

The Chief Minister also cited provisions related to consultation and mutual agreement, stating that changes affecting the existing water-sharing arrangement should involve all concerned states.

Karnataka Defends Mekedatu Project

The Karnataka government has maintained that the Mekedatu Project is primarily designed to address Bengaluru’s drinking water needs and support hydroelectric power generation.

Karnataka has argued that the reservoir will help manage water resources effectively and will not violate the existing Cauvery water-sharing arrangement.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka in 2019 was returned by the Central Water Commission for revisions to ensure compliance with applicable guidelines and the Cauvery tribunal’s award.

Legal Battle Over Cauvery Continues

The latest exchange between Tamil Nadu and the Centre has brought the long-running Cauvery water dispute back into focus.

While Karnataka views Mekedatu as an important infrastructure project for Bengaluru’s future water security, Tamil Nadu remains concerned about its possible impact on agricultural water availability.

With both sides maintaining their positions, the final decision on the project continues to remain a major legal and political issue involving river-sharing rights, federal cooperation and environmental considerations.