Bengaluru, August 5: Karnataka’s Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy stated on Wednesday that Tamil Nadu has no authority to halt the proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project. He emphasized that only the central government has the power to approve the project, and the state government will submit the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the center by August 15.
Speaking to the media in Bengaluru, Reddy mentioned that the revised DPR would incorporate all clarifications requested by the central government and is expected to be sent by the deadline. Following this, approval from the central government is anticipated.
He claimed that the Supreme Court had dismissed legal challenges filed by the Tamil Nadu government against the Mekedatu project, clearing the way for Karnataka to proceed.
Reddy stated, “The petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government have been rejected by the Supreme Court. We will move forward with the Mekedatu project.”
He also noted that the upcoming Karnataka Assembly session, starting August 13, will include discussions on this issue. The Chief Minister will consider further strategies regarding the project. Reddy highlighted that whenever issues related to land, language, and water arise, leaders from all parties have united to protect Karnataka’s interests.
Referring to a recent all-party meeting, Reddy mentioned that former chief ministers, central ministers, and representatives from all political parties supported the state government’s stance on the Mekedatu project.
He reiterated that the Karnataka government has already made a policy decision to construct the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and has sought approval from the center. The central government had previously returned the DPR for clarifications, which are now being incorporated into the revised report.
Reddy accused the Tamil Nadu government of receiving no relief from the Supreme Court in this matter. According to him, various petitions filed by Tamil Nadu were dismissed, including an interim application in 2026.
He also pointed out that Union Minister of State for Water Power V. Somanna recently clarified in the Lok Sabha that obtaining consent from neighboring states for the Mekedatu project is not necessary. Despite this, the Tamil Nadu government continues to oppose the project for political reasons. He noted that the Tamil Nadu Assembly had previously passed a resolution to halt the project.
It is important to note that the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project has been a long-standing point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu argues that it will impact the distribution of water from the Cauvery River, while Karnataka asserts that the project is designed to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and generate hydroelectric power without violating the existing water-sharing agreements.
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