Vijay to PM Modi: Don't clear Mekedatu, Supreme Court won't allow it
Chennai: Escalating Tamil Nadu's opposition to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam, Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to withhold every statutory and administrative approval for the project, arguing that it runs contrary to both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict on the long-running Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
In a letter dated July 28, Vijay objected to the Union government's response in the Rajya Sabha, where the Minister of State for Jal Shakti 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 a structure across the Cauvery River.
Calling the Centre's interpretation legally untenable, the Chief Minister said the reply overlooked established judicial principles governing disputes over inter-state rivers.
Backing his argument, Vijay referred to the Constitution Bench judgment in the Alamatti dam dispute involving Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, contending that the Supreme Court had categorically recognised the need for the consent of lower riparian States before upstream projects affecting river flow are undertaken.
He maintained that the same principle applies to the Mekedatu proposal.
The Chief Minister further asserted that while upholding the CWDT Award in 2018, the Supreme Court had made it clear that States could regulate water within their territories only in accordance with the Tribunal's directions.
He also cited the Tribunal's observations on Kerala's Pambar Hydro-electric Project, saying the insistence on coordinated water releases reflected the importance of protecting the interests of downstream States.
Referring to provisions of the Tribunal Award, Vijay said any measure that could impact scheduled water releases requires consultation and mutual agreement among the concerned States.
Seeking the Prime Minister's intervention, the Chief Minister requested the Centre to withdraw its Rajya Sabha reply, refrain from granting any approval to the Mekedatu project unless it fully complies with the CWDT Award and the Supreme Court judgment, and protect the rights of Tamil Nadu and other lower riparian States.
He also urged the Union government to ensure that any future consideration of the project is preceded by a detailed legal and technical assessment, stressing that the Cauvery remains the lifeline of millions of farmers and residents across southern India.