Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Writes to PM Modi to Oppose Mekedatu Dam Inspections

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to raise strong objections over a recent site inspection carried out by central government officials for the proposed Mekedatu dam project. Karnataka plans to build the reservoir across the Cauvery river with a capacity of 67.16 TMC right above the border between the two states.

Farmer Concerns

Mr. Vijay stated that the proposed structure would block water flowing down to Tamil Nadu and disrupt monthly water shares ordered by the Supreme Court. He noted that farmers in the Cauvery delta are already dealing with a shortage during the 2026-27 water year because Karnataka has not released the state's rightful share even on a pro-rata basis. Frequent media reports about Karnataka leaders meeting central ministries to push for project clearance have added to the growing worry among local agriculturalists.

Legal Steps

The Chief Minister reminded the Prime Minister about an earlier letter sent on July 28 asking for no official permits to be given without agreement from states downstream. He also pointed out that the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a unified resolution on June 19 opposing the project, and the state has filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court to cancel ministry guidelines from December 2025 regarding detailed project reports for the Cauvery basin.

Context

Inter-state water sharing disputes in India are often managed through tribunal awards and judicial rulings when neighboring states disagree on river usage during lean rainfall periods. Lower riparian states depend heavily on regulated monthly water releases to protect crops grown in delta regions. Central government agencies play a key role in reviewing technical proposals and granting clearances for major multi-purpose water infrastructure projects.