Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Friday, 4 September directed district officials to fast-track all processes linked to the Mekedatu project and warned that negligence would not be tolerated. The minister held a video conference with all district Deputy Commissioners at Vikas Soudha, Bengaluru, stressing that the state government was committed to laying the project's foundation at the earliest possible date.

Key Directives Issued

Cheluvarayaswamy instructed district administrations to identify suitable alternative land for compensatory afforestation without delay. He made clear that residential areas must be excluded from consideration — only deemed forest land and land belonging to the Revenue Department are eligible. Officials have been given 10 days to complete joint surveys of land and trees likely to be submerged and submit their reports.

The minister also directed that notices be issued to Deputy Commissioners who were absent from the video conference without prior intimation — a signal of the urgency the state government is attaching to the project.

The Forest Land Challenge

The Mekedatu project is expected to submerge approximately 5,096 hectares of forest land, for which Karnataka is required to provide compensatory land. The Revenue Department has already identified around 20,000 hectares, but roughly 5,000 hectares suitable for raising forest cover must be prioritised.

Officials discussed identifying compensatory land in Chamarajanagar, Mandya, and Bengaluru South districts in a 1:2 ratio. The meeting also explored whether the nearly 30,000 hectares of deemed forest land available in Mandya district alone could meet the entire requirement, subject to departmental approval. The Mandya Deputy Commissioner has been appointed nodal officer for Revenue Department land, while the minister directed the appointment of a separate senior officer to handle forest land processes.

Districts including Chitradurga, Raichur, Davanagere, Bagalkot, Yadgir, Haveri, Gadag, Vijayanagara, Bengaluru Rural, and Chamarajanagar have already conducted surveys of 'C and D' category lands and submitted preliminary reports. Mandya has indicated readiness to provide 772 hectares immediately, with the remainder to come from deemed forest land.

Delhi Talks to Provide Clarity

A critical meeting is scheduled for 8 September in New Delhi, where the state's Additional Chief Secretary is expected to seek clarity on whether deemed forest land qualifies as compensatory land under Union government norms. The minister directed that land transfers be completed immediately once approval is received. He also indicated that irrigation corporations could be tapped if additional funds were needed, while cautioning officials to ensure no Union government or Forest Department regulations were violated.

Political Context: Tamil Nadu's Opposition

The push to accelerate the Mekedatu project comes against a backdrop of sustained opposition from Tamil Nadu, which has consistently objected to the proposed balancing reservoir on the Cauvery river. The inter-state water dispute has made every procedural step politically sensitive, lending additional urgency to Karnataka's drive to complete land and forest clearances before the project faces further legal or regulatory hurdles.

A follow-up review meeting on the Mekedatu project is scheduled within the next 10 days. Senior officials present at Friday's conference included Additional Chief Secretaries Gaurav Gupta, Rajendra Kumar Katharia, and Anjum Parvez, along with CNN MD Mahesh and Mekedatu project nodal officer Dr Kumar.