Tamil Nadu Assembly Unanimously Opposes Karnataka’s Mekedatu Dam Plan
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, formally objecting to the Karnataka government's proposal to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu.
The resolution stated that the House “records its strong objection to the unilateral attempt of the Karnataka government to construct a dam across Cauvery at Mekedatu without respecting the final award given by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on February 5, 2007, and the Supreme Court judgment on February 16, 2018, without obtaining the concurrence of the concerned basin States, and without securing any approval from the Union government.”
It urged the Union government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the Mekedatu project. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court have observed that the Cauvery basin is a deficit basin and the total available water has already been apportioned among the basin states. Therefore, the resolution argued, no new project can be undertaken in the Cauvery basin, nor can any additional quantity of water be utilised.
The resolution noted that the Cauvery issue is a highly sensitive matter between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It called on the Centre to advise the Karnataka government not to undertake construction of a dam or any new water storage project at Mekedatu or anywhere else in the Cauvery basin without the concurrence of the other basin states and without the approval of the Union government.
Additionally, the resolution urged the Central Water Commission (CWC) not to examine, process, or grant approval to the Detailed Project Report submitted by the Karnataka government.
The Mekedatu project has been a long-standing source of dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Tamil Nadu maintains that any new storage or diversion in the Cauvery basin would violate the final award and the Supreme Court's verdict, which allocated water among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. Karnataka, on the other hand, argues that the project is a drinking water project and that it has the right to utilise its share of water within its territory.
Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, while moving the resolution, emphasised that the state would take all legal and diplomatic steps to protect its interests. The resolution was passed with the support of all members present, reflecting a unified stance across party lines.
The move comes ahead of the next meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, where the issue is expected to be discussed. The Tamil Nadu government has also indicated that it will approach the Supreme Court if necessary to prevent any unilateral action by Karnataka.
