Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu reservoir project on the Cauvery river. Vijay emphasized that the project would violate Supreme Court orders and impact the livelihoods of numerous farmers reliant on Cauvery water.
Vijay highlighted that the Cauvery water dispute has a long history of legal battles and that the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment is currently in effect. He pointed out that the Mekedatu project was not part of the approved projects under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final award.
The Chief Minister argued that the Cauvery basin is already water-deficient and that existing water resources have been allocated based on dependability. He opposed the construction of new reservoirs or projects across the river, citing potential disruptions to water flow and allocation to Tamil Nadu.
Vijay stressed that Karnataka’s proposed reservoir near the Tamil Nadu border could impact water flows and violate the Supreme Court’s ruling on scheduled water deliveries. He also mentioned environmental concerns, urging the rejection of the project’s Detailed Project Report and seeking consent from co-basin states before proceeding.
