Karnataka Water Resources Minister Directs Officials To Push Mekedatu Project

Newly appointed Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Thursday directed senior officials to expedite work related to the Mekedatu drinking water project and ensure that there are no unnecessary delays in the implementation process. Soon after assuming charge, the minister chaired a detailed meeting with senior officials to review the project’s current status, pending issues and the proposed course of action.

Cheluvarayaswamy stressed that Mekedatu should not be viewed only as an irrigation project, but as an important initiative linked to the long-term drinking water security of Bengaluru and other major urban areas. With the population of Bengaluru and surrounding regions continuing to grow, he emphasised the need for sustained planning to meet rising water demand over the coming decades.

During the meeting, the minister sought detailed information on the project’s Detailed Project Report, approvals required from the Union government and other authorities, environmental and forest clearances, land acquisition, rehabilitation and technical matters. He also reviewed the strategy for taking the project forward while safeguarding Karnataka’s interests and ensuring compliance with legal and technical requirements.

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The minister directed officials to prepare a comprehensive proposal detailing the progress made so far, pending approvals and steps required during the next phase. He also stressed greater coordination among departments involved in the project and asked officials to maintain regular communication with Union government departments while presenting Karnataka’s position on the proposal.

Cheluvarayaswamy emphasised that drinking water is a basic necessity and that public welfare should remain central to decisions concerning the project. He directed the Water Resources Department to prepare a clear, time-bound action plan covering the project’s present status, major pending issues and possible measures to resolve them. Officials were also asked to examine the technical and administrative aspects and submit a report on the next course of action at the earliest.

The meeting is expected to provide fresh momentum to Karnataka’s efforts to advance the Mekedatu project through the required legal, technical and administrative processes. Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta and other senior officials of the Water Resources Department attended the meeting as the government reviewed measures to move the project forward and address Bengaluru’s future drinking water requirements.

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