TN Declares No Supreme Court Approval for Mekedatu Dam, Warns Karnataka against Moves

Tamil Nadu Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan on November 14, 2025, sharply criticized the dissemination of "completely false" information claiming that the Supreme Court had approved Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery River. In a strongly worded statement, he clarified that the apex court's order, issued the previous day, did not grant any such permission but instead directed the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) to consider Tamil Nadu's concerns before proceeding on the project. Duraimurugan emphasized that no decisions could be made without hearing the lower riparian state's views, underscoring the court's recognition of interstate water-sharing sensitivities. This rebuttal comes amid heightened political rhetoric following the ruling, which has reignited a decades-long dispute over Cauvery water allocation between the two southern states.

The Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project, envisioned by Karnataka as a 67 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) structure for drinking water supply to Bengaluru and power generation, has been a flashpoint since Karnataka submitted its Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the CWC in 2018 without prior consultation. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the initiative, arguing it would submerge critical downstream flows essential for irrigating the fertile Cauvery delta region, home to millions of farmers reliant on the river for paddy cultivation and livelihoods. The Supreme Court, in its November 13 order, dismissed Tamil Nadu's applications challenging the CWC's 2018 nod for the DPR and seeking to restrain environmental clearances as "premature," noting that the CWMA was barred from deliberating while the matter remained sub-judice. The bench, comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Sandeep Mehta, reiterated Karnataka's obligation to release 177.25 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu as per the 2018 final award, a commitment the upper riparian state has exceeded this year by releasing 299 TMC as of mid-November.

Duraimurugan vowed that Tamil Nadu would "nip Karnataka's attempts in the bud," drawing on the state's successful track record of stalling the project over the past four years through legal interventions and diplomatic pressure. He recalled that when Karnataka allocated Rs 1,000 crore for the dam in its 2022 budget, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a unanimous resolution on March 21 opposing it, reinforcing the DMK government's firm stance. The minister highlighted sustained efforts that prevented the DPR from being tabled at CWMA meetings, including a June 2022 Supreme Court petition that kept the issue in limbo. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, however, hailed the ruling as a "victory for riparian states," affirming the project's focus on utilizing the state's share efficiently without harming Tamil Nadu, and announced plans to fast-track necessary approvals. This optimism contrasts with Tamil Nadu's position, where the project is viewed as a potential threat to ecological balance and agricultural viability in the delta.

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The Supreme Court's intervention underscores the enduring complexities of the Cauvery water dispute, governed by the 1996 tribunal award and subsequent refinements, amid climate variability and growing urban demands. While opposition parties in Tamil Nadu, including AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, decried the order as a "deeply painful blow" to farmers and accused the DMK of inadequate advocacy, Duraimurugan urged unity in protecting state interests. As both governments prepare submissions to the CWMA and CWC, the coming months will test the mechanisms for equitable resource sharing, with implications for regional stability and sustainable development in the Cauvery basin.

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