Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure Karnataka does not proceed without the consent of basin states.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure that no statutory or administrative approval is granted for Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project without the consent of all Cauvery basin states, according to The Shillong Times.
In a letter dated November 6, Vijay expressed strong objections to the construction of the dam across the Cauvery River. He stated that the project, which has a capacity of 67.16 TMC, could prevent water flows and prejudicially affect monthly deliveries to the inhabitants of the Cauvery basin in Tamil Nadu as stipulated by the Supreme Court.
The Chief Minister raised concerns regarding a recent site inspection by Union government officials at the proposed location. He noted that anxious farmers view such visits as an indication of tacit movement on a project that could jeopardise their livelihoods, particularly during the deficit water year of 2026–27.
Vijay requested that the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change refrain from undertaking technical evaluations or site inspections without the consent of lower riparian states. He cited a Supreme Court order dated February 16, 2018, in his request.
The Chief Minister maintained that any move towards approving the project without securing necessary consent would undermine federal principles and established water-sharing arrangements. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure the project remains consistent with the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
