Karnataka says the project would meet drinking water needs and help regulate releases. Tamil Nadu opposes additional upstream storage, fearing it would give Karnataka greater control over flows on which its farmers depend.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withhold approvals for Karnataka’s Mekedatu dam project without the consent of co-basin states, expressing concern over a reported site inspection by central government officials.
Karnataka proposes the reservoir across the Cauvery to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and generate electricity. Tamil Nadu fears it could restrict downstream flows and affect water available to its farmers.
In his letter to PM Modi, CM Vijay said the proposed 67.16 TMC reservoir, just upstream of the inter-state border, could affect both the quantity of water reaching Tamil Nadu and the monthly releases stipulated by the Supreme Court.
He said the reported inspection had heightened concerns among Cauvery delta farmers already struggling in the deficit water year of 2026–27. The Tamil Nadu CM accused Karnataka of failing to release Tamil Nadu’s due share even on a pro-rata basis.
VIJAY SEEKS HALT TO INSPECTIONS, APPROVALS
Vijay asked PM Modi to defer further administrative or technical action arising from the reported visit. Examining Karnataka’s detailed project report (DPR), conducting technical evaluations or inspecting the site at this stage was inappropriate, he argued.
“In view of the Supreme Court order dated February 16, 2018, the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change may be asked to refrain from undertaking any site inspections, technical evaluations, or granting any statutory, administrative clearances to the Mekedatu project without the consent of lower riparian States,” the Tamil Nadu CM wrote.