Tamil Nadu CM Vijay urges PM Modi to reject Karnataka's Mekedatu dam project
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay has written to PM Modi demanding the Centre reject Karnataka's Mekedatu reservoir project, citing a Supreme Court judgment, a water-deficient Cauvery basin, and a 2019 environmental rejection. The letter escalates a three-decade water dispute at a politically charged moment, as Karnataka reportedly prepares a Bhoomi Puja for the project.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay wrote to PM Narendra Modi on 26 May urging rejection of Karnataka's Mekedatu reservoir project .
The project was not sanctioned under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) final award, a position upheld by the Supreme Court .
Karnataka reportedly plans a Bhoomi Puja for the project; its Deputy CM's remarks have caused anxiety among Tamil Nadu farmers.
The proposed reservoir has a capacity of 67.16 TMC and would sit near the Tamil Nadu border.
The Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee returned Karnataka's proposal in 2019 citing unresolved inter-state issues.
Vijay has asked PM Modi to direct Jal Shakti Ministry and Central Water Commission to reject the project's Detailed Project Report .
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday, 26 May wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union government to reject Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu reservoir project on the Cauvery river. Vijay argued the project would violate Supreme Court orders and endanger the livelihoods of lakhs of farmers in Tamil Nadu who depend on Cauvery water.
What Prompted the Letter
The Chief Minister expressed deep concern over Karnataka's reported plans to hold a Bhoomi Puja for the Mekedatu project. He said public remarks by Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister regarding the initiative had triggered anxiety among Tamil Nadu farmers whose sustenance is directly tied to Cauvery flows.
Legal and Tribunal Basis of Tamil Nadu's Objection
Vijay pointed out that the Cauvery water dispute endured nearly three decades of legal contestation before a resolution was reached, and that the Supreme Court's judgment dated 16 February 2018 is currently under implementation. He emphasised that the Mekedatu project was not among the works sanctioned under the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) — a position the apex court has since upheld.
The Chief Minister further noted that the Cauvery basin is already classified as a water-deficient basin, with available resources already allocated among basin states on the basis of 50 per cent dependability. He argued this leaves no room for additional major reservoirs or fresh projects on the river or its tributaries.
Why the 67.16 TMC Reservoir Alarms Tamil Nadu
Vijay flagged that Karnataka's proposal involves a 67.16 TMC storage reservoir near the Tamil Nadu border, which could potentially disrupt flows from uncontrolled catchment areas — a critical component of Tamil Nadu's water entitlement. Citing Supreme Court precedent, he stressed that upper riparian states cannot undertake activities that interfere with scheduled water deliveries to downstream states.
He also referenced the Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee, which in 2019 returned Karnataka's proposal for fresh environmental studies, citing unresolved inter-state issues. Vijay argued that proceeding with the project would breach both Supreme Court directives and environmental regulations.
What Tamil Nadu Has Demanded
Seeking urgent central intervention, Vijay requested Prime Minister Modi to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission to reject the Mekedatu project's Detailed Project Report (DPR) and ensure Karnataka does not advance the project without securing consent from co-basin states.
The letter adds fresh urgency to a long-running interstate water dispute, with the Cauvery basin's future management likely to remain a flashpoint between the two states ahead of any further tribunal or court proceedings.
Point of View
And the 2019 environmental rejection has not been reversed. What is new is the political temperature. With a fresh face leading Tamil Nadu and Karnataka's coalition government needing visible wins on water, the dispute risks moving from courts back into street-level mobilisation. The Centre's response — or silence — will be read carefully by both states.
NationPress
11 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mekedatu dam project and why is it controversial?
The Mekedatu project is Karnataka's proposal to build a 67.16 TMC balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river near the Tamil Nadu border. Tamil Nadu opposes it because the project was not approved under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award, and the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment — currently under implementation — does not sanction it.
Why has Tamil Nadu CM Vijay written to PM Modi now?
Vijay wrote on 26 May following Karnataka's reported plans to hold a Bhoomi Puja for the Mekedatu project and public remarks by Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister that alarmed Tamil Nadu farmers. The letter seeks immediate central intervention before the project advances further.
What does Tamil Nadu want the Centre to do?
Tamil Nadu has asked PM Modi to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Central Water Commission to formally reject the Mekedatu project's Detailed Project Report and ensure Karnataka does not proceed without consent from co-basin states.
What was the 2019 Environment Ministry decision on Mekedatu?
The Environment Ministry's Expert Appraisal Committee returned Karnataka's Mekedatu proposal in 2019, citing unresolved inter-state issues and directing fresh environmental studies. That decision has not been overturned, and Tamil Nadu argues it remains a binding procedural barrier.
How long has the Cauvery water dispute been ongoing?
The Cauvery water dispute spanned nearly three decades of legal proceedings before a resolution was reached through the Supreme Court's judgment on 16 February 2018, which is currently being implemented by the relevant authorities.
