Mekedatu Dam Project: Vijay May Meet PM Modi As Karnataka Defends Proposal

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay may meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on November 16 to raise concerns over Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery River.

The expected meeting comes as tensions between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the project continue, with both states maintaining opposing positions on the proposed reservoir.

Vijay had written to PM Modi on November 7, outlining the potential impact of the project on Tamil Nadu and urging the Centre not to grant approval without the state government’s consent.

Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, meanwhile, defended the proposal, arguing that his government does not require another state’s permission to construct a dam within Karnataka’s territory.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, Shivakumar referred to a Supreme Court ruling that, according to him, permits Karnataka to pursue the project while meeting its water-sharing obligations. He reiterated that the state would continue releasing 177 tmc of water annually to Tamil Nadu.

Shivakumar described the reservoir as a means of storing water during droughts and said the government had identified an additional 5,400 hectares to compensate for the forest land required for the project. He called for discussions between the two states and invited Vijay to send representatives to Karnataka to examine the proposal.

Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Water Resources Minister N Anand rejected Karnataka’s arguments and maintained that the state would oppose the project.

The dispute intensified during PM Modi’s recent Karnataka visit, when Shivakumar urged the Centre to support the dam and grant the necessary environmental and forest clearances.

Vijay’s proposed meeting with the Prime Minister could give Tamil Nadu an opportunity to present its objections and seek the Centre’s intervention over the project’s implications for Cauvery water sharing.