Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government not to allow the construction of the Mekedatu dam by the Karnataka government. The move comes days after the Congress-led Karnataka government proposed the construction of the Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river.
Alleged violation of Supreme Court judgment
In his letter, Vijay stated that the project proposed by Karnataka was in "clear violation" of the Supreme Court's judgment. He also expressed concern over remarks made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, who had recently spoken about the project's progress.
Meeting to uphold state's rights
Earlier on Monday, Vijay chaired a meeting to uphold the "state's rights" and safeguard the welfare of farmers. The meeting focused on legal measures to oppose the dam. A statement issued by the Tamil Nadu government said: "Taking into account the details of the Supreme Court judgment and detailed legal consultation, CM Vijay advised that immediate follow-up legal measures should be undertaken expeditiously."
The statement further noted that since the proposed Mekedatu dam is contrary to a Supreme Court verdict, the then Tamil Nadu government had filed petitions in the apex court opposing the project on November 30, 2018, and June 7, 2022. It added that during the hearing held on November 13, 2025, the Supreme Court had not granted permission for the Mekedatu dam and observed that the project remained at a preliminary stage. The court also noted that only the expert body, the Central Water Commission, could determine whether the project falls within the ambit of its earlier judgment, and accordingly ordered closure of the cases.
Shivakumar's remarks on project progress
Vijay's meeting came after Shivakumar said that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Mekedatu would soon be submitted to the Centre, with the foundation stone ceremony planned after obtaining Union government approval. "The DPR for the Mekedatu project has been prepared, and a project office has been opened. We are identifying alternate land to compensate for the forest area that will be submerged. The DPR will be submitted to the Centre shortly. Once the Centre grants approval, we will perform the bhoomi puja for the project," Shivakumar told reporters.
Long-standing Cauvery water dispute
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry have a long-standing dispute over Cauvery river water, with the issue being particularly sensitive in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and, at times, triggering violent protests. The Mekedatu dam project has been a contentious point in this dispute, with Tamil Nadu consistently opposing it on legal and environmental grounds.
