Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay has formally requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the escalating Mekedatu dam dispute, urging him to withhold all statutory and administrative clearances for Karnataka's proposed project. The Chief Minister's appeal highlights concerns over the potential impact on Tamil Nadu's allocated share of Cauvery River water, emphasizing the need for consent from all basin states before any development proceeds.
Concerns Over Unilateral Action
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, CM Vijay voiced apprehension regarding a recent site inspection conducted by Union government officials related to the Mekedatu project. He called upon the Centre to defer any further administrative or technical actions stemming from this inspection and to advise Karnataka against pursuing the project without broader consensus.
The proposed Mekedatu reservoir, with a substantial storage capacity of 67.16 thousand million cubic feet (TMC), is a significant point of contention. Tamil Nadu argues that such a project could severely disrupt the flow of Cauvery water into the state and jeopardize its monthly water deliveries, which are crucial for agriculture and drinking water for millions.
The Mekedatu Project Explained
The Mekedatu project envisions a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River, situated near Kanakapura in Karnataka, close to the inter-state border. Karnataka advocates for the project primarily to fulfill Bengaluru's escalating drinking water demands and to generate hydroelectric power. The state maintains that the project will not negatively affect Tamil Nadu's legally allocated share of Cauvery water.
However, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the initiative. Its stance is rooted in the argument that the Cauvery's water resources have already been meticulously apportioned among the basin states through legal frameworks. Therefore, any new reservoir, according to Tamil Nadu, risks undermining its access to the established water supply.
A Long-Standing Inter-State Water Dispute
The Cauvery water dispute is a highly sensitive issue in the region, as the river serves as an indispensable source of water for agriculture, drinking, and other essential needs across multiple states. Chief Minister Vijay's recent intervention underscores Tamil Nadu's firm position that Karnataka should not receive any clearances for the project without adequately addressing the concerns of all other riparian states.
The legal framework governing the Cauvery water sharing includes the final award issued by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in 2007, which was subsequently modified by the Supreme Court's judgment in 2018. Tamil Nadu insists that the Mekedatu proposal must be rigorously assessed and implemented in strict accordance with these established legal arrangements to ensure equitable water distribution.