Karnataka government pressing ahead with Mekedatu dam project, deciding to send revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to Central government. This move comes after Supreme Court on November 13 called Tamil Nadu's challenge "premature." Legal hurdle now cleared,so Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) set to review Karnataka's plan for balancing reservoir on Cauvery River.
The dam,about 100 km from Bengaluru,has a ₹9,000 crore price tag and aims to hold 67.16 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) of water. It also includes a 400 MW hydroelectric component . Project expected to submerge around 4,996 hectares, including key forest and wildlife areas. Karnataka officials argue it will address Bengaluru's severe drinking water shortages.
In Tamil Nadu,reactions sharp . Water Resources Minister Durai Murugan dismissed claims Supreme Court ruling allows dam's construction. He insists Tamil Nadu will fight Karnataka's attempts to push project forward. Meanwhile, Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar called court's decision a win for his state,saying it will benefit both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu by securing water supply during dry years.
The Mekedatu project — a long,contentious history, first proposed in 1948. But urgency grew with Bengaluru's population now at 13 million,projected to hit 20 million in six years. City needs 2,600 million liters per day (MLD) but only gets 2,100 MLD,leaving 500 MLD gap. Cauvery River provides 1,450 MLD,rest from groundwater.
Despite water need, concerns remain about Karnataka storing too much water,releasing it at will. Tamil Nadu's worries rooted in historical distrust over water sharing,especially first four months of water year. state has accused Karnataka of not releasing enough water, fueling fears Mekedatu could worsen situation .
Experts propose alternatives to ease Bengaluru's water woes. T.V. Ramachandra from Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru notes city gets 700-850 mm of rainfall annually, potentially yielding 15 TMC of water. Plus,reusing treated wastewater could add 16 TMC annually. These could ease pressure on Cauvery River.
Central government previously stressed need for Karnataka,Tamil Nadu to resolve Mekedatu dispute amicably. In January 2019,Karnataka first submitted DPR to CWC,which then referred it to CWMA. But Ministry of Environment,Forest and Climate Change stressed resolving inter-State issues first. CWMA recently sent project back to CWC after lengthy discussions.
As Karnataka gears up to push Mekedatu forward,potential for state dialogue remains unclear. CWMA and CWC might offer discussion platforms,but deep mistrust over water sharing still looms large…
