Tamil Nadu to stop Karnataka from going ahead with Mekedatu project

Chennai: Close on the heels of Karnataka seeking clearance for the Mekedatu project, Tamil Nadu on Monday asserted that it will not allow the neighbouring state from constructing a reservoir across River Cauvery and is taking all necessary action, including legal action, in this regard.  

Placing the policy note for the year 2025-2026, Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan said the state government has been informed by the Union Government that Karnataka has not yet submitted the finalized Detailed Project Report.

Karnataka proposed to construct a reservoir with a capacity of 67.16 tmcft in Mekedatu across River Cauvery to provide drinking water for Bengaluru. However, Tamil Nadu says Karnataka cannot proceed with the project without the permission of the lower riparian state.

Tamil Nadu also believes the project will obstruct natural flow of water from Karnataka and the two states have been waging a legal battle over the issue. 

“The Government of Tamil Nadu is taking all necessary action including legal action to prevent Karnataka from constructing a Dam at Mekedatu or any other place, in the Cauvery basin of Karnataka, in violation of the Final Order of the Tribunal and the Judgment of the Supreme Court and to safeguard the rights of Tamil Nadu,” Durai Murugan said. 

His comments come a month after his Karnataka counterpart D K Shivakumar asked the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti to direct the Central Water Commission to clear the Mekedatu project on priority.

Tamil Nadu believes the project will be detrimental to the interests of farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, who are entirely dependent on Cauvery water, but Karnataka feels otherwise saying it will be beneficial to the neighbouring state. 

Durai Murugan said in the irrigation year 2024-2025, 159.184 TMC of water was released from Mettur for irrigation in the Delta region. 

On letting in sewage and industrial effluents from Bengaluru city and its surroundings in Cauvery and Pennaiyar rivers by Karnataka, the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is collecting water samples from Cauvery and Pennaiyar rivers near the inter-State boundary between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to monitor water quality.

“Similarly, the Central Water Commission is also collecting samples and monitoring the water quality of Cauvery River at Biligundlu,” he added.