Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay requested the Prime Minister to withhold clearances for Karnataka's project until all Cauvery basin states consent.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to prevent the Union government from granting legal or administrative clearances for Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project. According to reports from Business Today and Deccan Chronicle, the Chief Minister wants the Centre to ensure no approvals are issued without the agreement of all states sharing the Cauvery River basin.
In a letter sent on Saturday, Vijay expressed concern regarding a recent site inspection by Union government officials at the proposed location near the inter-state border. He asked the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change to stop technical evaluations or administrative actions resulting from that visit.
The proposed reservoir near Kanakapura in Karnataka is designed with a storage capacity of 67.16 thousand million cubic feet (TMC). Vijay argued that the dam could obstruct water flows and disrupt monthly deliveries to Tamil Nadu, affecting farmers and communities in the Cauvery basin.
The Chief Minister noted that the project has caused anxiety among farmers, particularly during the 2026–27 water deficit year. He cited a 2018 Supreme Court judgment and the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal final award as the legal framework that must be respected.
Karnataka has advocated for the project to meet drinking water needs for Bengaluru and to generate hydroelectric power. The state has maintained that the reservoir would not negatively impact the water share allocated to Tamil Nadu.
