The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister requested that no clearances be granted for the Karnataka proposal without the consent of co-basin states.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday to express concern regarding a reported site inspection by union government officials at the proposed Mekedatu dam location. According to The New Indian Express, Vijay requested the Prime Minister to direct the Ministry of Jal Shakti to stop technical evaluations or site inspections without the consent of lower riparian states.
The Chief Minister stated that the proposed reservoir, which has a capacity of 67.16 TMC, is planned on the Cauvery river near the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He argued that the project could block water flows to Tamil Nadu and negatively impact the monthly water releases required by the Supreme Court.
Vijay noted that reports of the Karnataka Chief Minister meeting with union ministry officials to seek clearance for the project's detailed project report (DPR) have caused anxiety among farmers. He said the reported site visit by central officers has deepened these worries, particularly as Cauvery delta farmers are already struggling during the 2026–27 deficit water year.
The Chief Minister highlighted that Karnataka has failed to provide Tamil Nadu's due water share on a pro-rata basis. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the rights of lower riparian states regarding water quantity and monthly release patterns are protected.
In his letter dated November 6, Vijay requested that the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change refrain from granting any statutory or administrative clearances for the project without the concurrence of the co-basin states.
