Centre Defends Mekedatu Dam Project, Citing Supreme Court Verdict on Cauvery Dispute

The Union government on Thursday reiterated in the Lok Sabha its stance on the proposed Mekedatu dam project in Karnataka, stating that the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment on the Cauvery water dispute does not require Karnataka to seek consent from downstream states Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry before constructing structures across the river.

Replying to a question from DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the apex court cited the relevant clause in the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT), which does not mandate such consent. The minister noted that the government has received representations from the Tamil Nadu government and farmers' organisations expressing concerns about the project's impact on the Cauvery delta and drinking water availability in other districts.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had earlier objected to the Union minister's reply in the Rajya Sabha and wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, requesting its withdrawal. In his letter, Stalin argued that the project cannot be evaluated "merely as an engineering proposal" and that any project affecting the regulated flow regime established under the CWDT award must be scrutinised for consistency. He also pointed to a clause that "specifically prohibits" an upper riparian state from taking action that affects scheduled deliveries to lower riparian states.

The Mekedatu dam project, proposed by Karnataka on the Cauvery river, has been a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka maintains that the project is within its rights, as it does not require any new water allocation but aims to generate hydroelectricity and provide drinking water to Bengaluru. Tamil Nadu, however, fears that the project would reduce the flow of water to the Cauvery delta and affect agriculture and drinking water supplies.

The Cauvery water dispute has a long history, with the CWDT delivering its final award in 2007, which was later upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The tribunal and the court allocated water among the riparian states, but the construction of new projects like Mekedatu has remained a flashpoint. The Union government's consistent stance, as reiterated in Parliament, is that the Supreme Court judgment does not bar Karnataka from proceeding with the project, but it has also acknowledged the concerns raised by Tamil Nadu.

This development highlights the ongoing tensions between states over shared river waters and the role of the Union government in mediating such disputes. The issue is likely to continue to be debated in political and legal forums.