Mekedatu DPR ready for Centre submission, foundation stone after approval: Shivakumar
Synopsis
Karnataka Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar has confirmed the Mekedatu DPR is ready and will be submitted to the Centre shortly — with the foundation stone contingent on approval. His firm rebuttal of Tamil Nadu's objections, backed by a Supreme Court reference, signals the state is pushing hard on a project that has been stalled for years.
Key Takeaways
Shivakumar confirmed the Mekedatu balancing reservoir DPR is finalised and will soon be submitted to the Centre for approval.
The foundation stone will be laid only after Central government approval is received.
Karnataka is under a standing directive to release 177 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu under the Cauvery award.
Shivakumar said the Supreme Court has directed the Central Water Commission to decide on the Mekedatu matter, dismissing Tamil Nadu's objections.
The Congress-led Karnataka government has completed three years in office and introduced the Bhu Guarantee scheme as a sixth guarantee.
The state is preparing contingency plans for a potential rainfall deficit this year to protect farmers and drinking water supplies.
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and State Congress President D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds charge of the Water Resources Ministry, announced on Thursday, 21 May that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project has been finalised and will shortly be submitted to the Centre for approval. He confirmed that the foundation stone for the project will be laid only after the Centre gives the green light.
Key Developments on the Mekedatu Project
Speaking to reporters near the Kollegal helipad and the Madhyaranga temple in Chamarajanagar district, Shivakumar said the state government had already set up a dedicated project office for Mekedatu and was actively identifying alternative land to compensate for forest areas that would be submerged by the reservoir.
'The DPR for the Mekedatu project has been prepared, and we have started a project office for it. We are identifying alternative land to compensate for the forest area that will be submerged. The DPR will soon be submitted to the Central government, and once approval is granted, the foundation stone for the project will be laid,' he said.
Cauvery Dispute and Tamil Nadu's Objections
Addressing the long-running Cauvery water dispute, Shivakumar acknowledged that Karnataka is under a standing directive to release 177 TMC of water to Tamil Nadu, but firmly pushed back against Tamil Nadu's opposition to the Mekedatu project.
'Tamil Nadu has no right to object to the Mekedatu project. The Supreme Court has clearly stated that the Central Water Commission must take a decision on the matter,' he said, adding that discussions on resolving the broader Cauvery issue would continue in the coming days.
Three Years of Congress Government: Shivakumar's Assessment
The Deputy Chief Minister used the occasion to mark three years of the Congress-led Karnataka government, asserting that all election promises had been honoured. He highlighted the introduction of the Bhu Guarantee scheme as a sixth guarantee, under which property account documents with photographs of both the beneficiary and the property are being delivered door-to-door.
'We are repaying the trust of the people by doing work others could not accomplish,' Shivakumar said, adding that the government planned further developmental activity over the next two years.
Rainfall Preparedness and Other Announcements
Shivakumar said the government was already drawing up contingency plans in the event of a rainfall deficit this year, with a focus on protecting farmers and securing drinking water supplies. He noted that the previous two years had seen adequate rainfall.
He also confirmed that the state government had fulfilled its commitment to provide government jobs to family members of those who died in the oxygen tragedy during the Covid-19 pandemic in Chamarajanagar district, crediting Minister K. Venkatesh for the achievement.
On the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, Shivakumar said the responsibility rested with the Election Commission of India (ECI) and assured the state government's full cooperation. When asked about his own prospects as Chief Minister, he smiled and said, 'Time will decide that.'
With the Mekedatu DPR now awaiting Central clearance, the project's fate hinges on the Centre's response and the Central Water Commission's formal assessment — a process that could shape Karnataka's water security calculus for decades.
Point of View
Yet the DPR has taken years to reach this stage — and Central approval is far from guaranteed given Tamil Nadu's sustained opposition and the inter-state water politics at play. Shivakumar's invocation of the Supreme Court directive on the Central Water Commission is a legally grounded move, but it also signals that Karnataka expects a prolonged procedural battle ahead. The simultaneous messaging on three-year governance achievements suggests this announcement is as much about internal political optics — with Chief Minister succession questions looming — as it is about project execution. Whether the Centre acts swiftly or lets the DPR languish will be a telling signal of how the BJP-led Union government chooses to navigate a Congress-ruled state's flagship water project.
NationPress
7 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project?
The Mekedatu balancing reservoir is a proposed dam project on the Cauvery river in Karnataka , intended to store water for drinking and power generation needs of the state, particularly Bengaluru . The project has been contested by Tamil Nadu , which argues it would affect downstream water flows.
What is the current status of the Mekedatu DPR?
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been finalised by the Karnataka government and will shortly be submitted to the Centre for approval. A dedicated project office has already been established, and the state is identifying alternative land for forest areas that will be submerged.
Why is Tamil Nadu opposed to the Mekedatu project?
Tamil Nadu contends that the Mekedatu reservoir would reduce the flow of Cauvery water to which it is entitled under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award. Karnataka's Deputy CM Shivakumar has argued that Tamil Nadu has no legal right to block the project, citing a Supreme Court directive that the Central Water Commission must adjudicate the matter.
What is Karnataka's obligation under the Cauvery water-sharing arrangement?
Karnataka is under a standing directive to release 177 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu as determined by the Cauvery water-sharing framework. Shivakumar said the state would discuss in coming days how to resolve the broader Cauvery issue.
When will the Mekedatu foundation stone be laid?
Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar has stated that the foundation stone will be laid only after the Centre grants formal approval following its review of the DPR. No specific timeline has been announced for when Central clearance is expected.
