Tamil Nadu CM Urges PM Modi to Reject Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam Proposal, Cites SC Verdict and Cauvery Tribunal Award

Chennai, July 2026 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that the Union government does not grant any statutory or administrative approval to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Dam project, asserting that the move would violate both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment governing the sharing of Cauvery river waters.

In a detailed letter dated July 28, the Chief Minister expressed strong reservations over a recent reply by the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha. The minister had stated that the Supreme Court’s February 16, 2018 verdict did not specifically require Karnataka to obtain the consent of downstream riparian States before constructing any new structure across the Cauvery River.

CM Vijay described the Centre’s interpretation as legally untenable, arguing that it overlooked well-established judicial principles relating to inter-state river disputes. According to him, the Rajya Sabha response could create an erroneous impression regarding the legal position and potentially undermine the rights of lower riparian States, particularly Tamil Nadu.

The Chief Minister referred to the Constitution Bench judgment in the Alamatti Dam dispute between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, where the Supreme Court held that an upstream State must obtain the consent of downstream States before undertaking projects that could affect river flows. He maintained that the same legal principle squarely applies to the proposed Mekedatu Dam and cannot be disregarded while evaluating the project.

Highlighting the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment, Vijay noted that while the apex court upheld the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award, it also made it clear that States could regulate and utilise river waters within their territories only in accordance with the Tribunal’s directions. Any project that affects the agreed sharing mechanism, he argued, must therefore be examined within the framework of the Tribunal Award.

The Chief Minister also cited the Tribunal’s observations regarding Kerala’s Pambar Hydro-electric Project, where coordinated water releases were made mandatory to safeguard the interests of downstream States. He said this demonstrated the consistent legal principle that upstream developments should not adversely impact the water entitlements of lower riparian States.

Further referring to provisions in the CWDT Award, Vijay said any action that could influence scheduled water releases requires prior consultation and mutual agreement among the basin States. Ignoring these safeguards, he warned, could disturb the delicate balance achieved through years of legal proceedings and negotiations.

Seeking the Prime Minister’s personal intervention, the Chief Minister requested the Union government to withdraw the Rajya Sabha reply, refrain from granting any approval to the Mekedatu Dam unless it fully complies with the Tribunal Award and the Supreme Court’s directions, and protect the legitimate rights of Tamil Nadu and other downstream States.

He also urged the Centre to ensure that any future consideration of the Mekedatu project is preceded by a comprehensive legal and technical assessment, emphasising that the Cauvery River remains the lifeline of millions of farmers and residents across southern India whose livelihoods depend on equitable and uninterrupted water sharing.