Experts Advise Karnataka to Gain Tamil Nadu’s Approval Before Mekedatu Dam Moves Ahead
Bengaluru, July 8, 2025 – Experts advise Karnataka to shift from confrontation to collaboration with Tamil Nadu to fast‑track the stalled ₹9,000 crore Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, designed to store 48 TMC ft of water, supply 4.7 TMC ft to Bengaluru, and generate 400 MW hydropower, reported The Times of India thehindu.com+15theprint.in+15reddit.com+15theprint.in+2indianexpress.com+2timesofindia.indiatimes.com+2thehindu.com+1indianexpress.com+1.
🧭 What’s Holding the Project Back?
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Tamil Nadu fears the dam will reduce its Cauvery water share, leading to united opposition and legal appeals.
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The 2018 Supreme Court judgment permits Mekedatu only if the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which must consider TN’s objections, gives approval thehindu.com+6hindustantimes.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6en.wikipedia.org+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
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Karnataka has political unity behind the project, but lacks essential central agency and inter-state clearance timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
🤝 Experts Call for Cooperative Approach
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Dr Roopesh Kumar, retired water expert:
“Karnataka must stop presenting it as a unilateral exercise…and bring Tamil Nadu into the process” en.wikipedia.org+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1reddit.com+11reddit.com+11timesofindia.indiatimes.com+11.
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Political analyst Vishwas Shetty: “…state can use consensus to pressure Centre… but must assure TN via diplomatic and technical channels” timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
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Union minister HD Kumaraswamy offered to leverage political ties under the INDIA bloc:
“Convince the DMK govt in Tamil Nadu…then I will get clearance from PM Modi in five minutes” timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1newindianexpress.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
🔍 What Karnataka Needs to Do
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Submit a detailed project report (DPR) with real-time hydrological data, release mechanisms, and safeguards en.wikipedia.org+6theprint.in+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
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Use the CWMA and Central Water Commission as mediators to address Tamil Nadu’s concerns about downstream impacts reddit.com+8indianexpress.com+8timesofindia.indiatimes.com+8.
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Focus on ensuring regulated outflows so that Tamil Nadu continues receiving its tribunal‑allotted 404 TMC ft of Cauvery water thehindu.com+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
🏛️ Political Context & Ongoing Opposition
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Tamil Nadu Water Minister Duraimurugan reiterated the state’s refusal to allow the project without consent, citing legal approvals pending from central agencies and Supreme Court petitions timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6newindianexpress.com+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
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The DMK government and AIADMK passed resolutions, filed petitions, and met with central authorities to oppose Mekedatu en.wikipedia.org+15newindianexpress.com+15indianexpress.com+15.
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Environmental concerns also persist: the dam site is close to the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, threatening 12,000 acres of forest and wildlife habitats en.wikipedia.org.
📌 Way Forward
The project won’t advance without bridging the trust gap. Experts stress a technical, data-driven approach backed by political dialogue. With both states now part of the INDIA bloc, there’s scope for renewed engagement and consensus-building under CWMA oversight.
