Chennai, July 28, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to grant any statutory or administrative approval to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Dam project, contending that it would violate the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award as well as the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
In a letter dated July 28, Vijay expressed concern over a recent reply by the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti in the Rajya Sabha, which stated that the Supreme Court’s February 16, 2018 judgment did not specifically require Karnataka to obtain the consent of downstream riparian States before constructing any structure across the Cauvery River.
Calling the Centre’s response “legally unsustainable,” the Chief Minister said it overlooked established judicial principles governing inter-state river disputes.
Referring to the Supreme Court’s Constitution Bench judgment in the Alamatti dam case involving Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Vijay said the apex court had clearly held that the consent of downstream riparian States was necessary before an upstream State could undertake projects that could affect water flow.
He argued that the same principle applied to the proposed Mekedatu project and should be considered while evaluating the proposal.
The Chief Minister also pointed out that the Supreme Court, while upholding the CWDT Award in its 2018 judgment, had affirmed that States could regulate water within their territories only in accordance with the Tribunal’s directions.
He further noted that the Tribunal had insisted on coordinated water releases even in the case of Kerala’s Pambar Hydro-electric Project, underscoring the need to safeguard the interests of downstream States.
Vijay also referred to provisions of the Tribunal Award that require consultation and mutual agreement before any action affecting scheduled water releases can be undertaken.
Seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister requested the Union government to withdraw the Rajya Sabha reply, refrain from granting approval to the Mekedatu Dam project unless it fully complies with the CWDT Award and the Supreme Court’s judgment, and protect the rights of Tamil Nadu and other lower riparian States.
He also urged the Centre to ensure that any future consideration of the project is preceded by a comprehensive legal and technical assessment, stating that the Cauvery River remains the lifeline of millions of farmers and residents across southern India.
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