Tamil Nadu CM Holds Key Meet on Mekedatu Dam as Cauvery Water Dispute Intensifies

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday convened a high-level consultation meeting to discuss the Mekedatu issue and the state's response to Karnataka's failure to release Cauvery water to the Mettur Dam. The meeting, held at the state secretariat in Chennai, brought together senior ministers, bureaucrats, and legal experts to chart the next course of action.

The participants included Minister for Rural Development and Water Resources N. Anand, Minister for Public Works and Sports Aadhav Arjuna, Minister for Electricity and Law R. Nirmalkumar, Chief Secretary M. Sai Kumar, Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Satyabrata Sahoo, Law Secretary P. Sumathi, and Chairman of the Cauvery Technical Cell R. Subramanian, among others.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Law Minister R. Nirmalkumar said the government would decide on the next steps within a few weeks. “Consultations were held with all relevant experts and lawyers who have been fighting this legal battle for over 15 years. Based on these discussions, the next steps and decisions will be taken within the next few weeks. The Chief Minister will order all necessary actions to be implemented. We will announce what measures we are going to take within a week or 10 days,” he stated.

The Mekedatu project, proposed by Karnataka, involves building a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River near Mekedatu in Ramanagara district. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, arguing that it would interfere with the flow of water to the state and violate the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, which was upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. The dispute has been a long-standing issue between the two states, with Tamil Nadu consistently seeking the intervention of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Supreme Court to ensure its share of water.

The current crisis has been exacerbated by Karnataka's decision to not release water to the Mettur Dam, which is crucial for irrigation and drinking water supply in Tamil Nadu. The state government has accused Karnataka of violating the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final order and the directives of the Cauvery Water Management Authority. The meeting on Monday is seen as a preparatory step for legal and diplomatic actions, possibly including approaching the Supreme Court again or seeking relief from the central government.

Experts note that the Mekedatu issue is not just a water-sharing problem but also a matter of interstate river governance and federal principles. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal had allocated 404.25 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water to Tamil Nadu annually, while Karnataka's share is 284.75 tmc ft. The Mekedatu project, if constructed, would allow Karnataka to store up to 100 tmc ft of water, which Tamil Nadu fears could be used to reduce its share.

The Tamil Nadu government has maintained that it will use all available legal and constitutional means to protect the state's interests. The outcome of Monday's consultation is expected to shape the state's strategy in the coming weeks, with a formal announcement likely by the end of July or early August.