Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has defended the Mekedatu project and said Tamil Nadu would gain more than Karnataka from the proposed reservoir, intensifying an inter-state dispute over Cauvery water, Bengaluru’s drinking water supply and the project’s pending environmental clearance.
Speaking to reporters in Hassan, Shivakumar said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay was entitled to oppose the project on behalf of his state, but argued that the project’s benefits had not been understood by Tamil Nadu’s political leadership or people, according to a report by Dinamalar – Tamil Nadu published on November 8.
The remarks followed a letter reportedly sent by Vijay to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking the Centre not to grant Karnataka approval to construct the Mekedatu dam without Tamil Nadu’s consent. The project has remained a contentious issue between the two states because of its location on the Cauvery river and its potential effect on the timing and management of downstream water releases.
Shivakumar said the reservoir would allow Karnataka to draw drinking water for Bengaluru and generate 400 megawatts of electricity. He also acknowledged that the project would submerge 13,350 acres of forest land and said Karnataka would have to provide an alternative site for the affected forest area.
The Karnataka chief minister said the proposed dam site falls within his Kanakapura Assembly constituency and argued that Tamil Nadu’s permission was not required because the project would be built on Karnataka’s land. He said Tamil Nadu’s support, rather than its consent, was needed. He further claimed that the Supreme Court had permitted construction of the dam, while acknowledging that environmental clearance was still pending.
The statement places the environmental approval process at the centre of the next stage of the dispute. Although Shivakumar said the project had received judicial approval, his comments indicated that clearance from the environment authorities remains outstanding. That approval is a separate institutional step from the political negotiations and court proceedings surrounding the sharing of Cauvery water.
Shivakumar also said that political leaders across Karnataka’s parties were united in demanding construction of the dam. He said he would meet the prime minister when possible and was continuing discussions with Union Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil. These engagements are expected to form part of Karnataka’s effort to advance the project through the Centre’s approval framework.
On water releases, Shivakumar said Karnataka would continue to release 177 thousand million cubic feet of water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the Supreme Court’s order. The figure is central to the dispute because the proposed reservoir is being presented by Karnataka as a project for urban water supply and power generation, while Tamil Nadu has raised concerns about the security and regulation of downstream flows.
The immediate next step identified in the statement is further engagement between Karnataka’s leadership, the Union government and the environmental authorities. No environmental clearance for the project was reported in the supplied account.
