Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to allow Karnataka to build the proposed Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Vijay said the project clearly violated the Supreme Court’s judgment on the Cauvery water dispute.
The issue gained attention after the Congress-led Karnataka government renewed efforts to move ahead with the Mekedatu project. Vijay also expressed concern over recent comments made by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar.
Vijay Calls Meeting On Farmers And State Rights
On Monday, Vijay chaired a high-level meeting to protect Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water and safeguard farmers’ welfare. Senior officials and legal experts attended the discussion.
The Tamil Nadu government later released a statement about the meeting.
“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 said.
The government also said the Mekedatu project went against the Supreme Court’s verdict. It pointed out that the previous Tamil Nadu government had already filed petitions in the apex court against the project on November 30, 2018, and June 7, 2022.
Supreme Court Did Not Approve Project
The Tamil Nadu government also referred to the Supreme Court hearing held on November 13, 2025. During the hearing, the court did not approve the Mekedatu dam project. It observed that the proposal was still at a preliminary stage.
The court further said that only the Central Water Commission could decide whether the project violated the earlier judgment. Based on this observation, the court closed the pending cases.
Karnataka Prepares To Submit DPR
Vijay’s meeting came after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar announced fresh progress on the project.
He said the state government had completed the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and would soon submit it to the Centre. He also said Karnataka planned to begin the project after getting approval from the Union government.
“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.
Cauvery Dispute Remains Sensitive
Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, and Puducherry have fought a long legal and political battle over Cauvery river water sharing. The issue remains highly sensitive in both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. At times, the dispute has also triggered large protests and violence.