'My state, my right': DK Shivakumar responds to Tamil Nadu Congress chief over Mekedatu

Bengaluru: The long-standing Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has resurfaced after Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar hit back at Tamil Nadu Congress president Manickam Tagore over his criticism of the proposed Mekedatu dam project.

Reacting to Tagore's condemnation of his remarks that "no one can stop" the construction of the dam, Shivakumar on Saturday said he was least bothered by the criticism, asserting that Karnataka had the right to build the reservoir while fulfilling Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery water.

"Let anyone condemn; I am least bothered. It is my state, my right. Let them come with a delegation; I will show them and explain to them how it helps," Shivakumar said.

He also suggested that the criticism was politically motivated, arguing that different parties in Tamil Nadu would oppose the project regardless of the Congress's position.

"If Congress doesn't condemn, DMK will condemn. If DMK doesn't condemn, AIADMK will condemn. Then everyone may condemn," he said.

Defending Karnataka's position, Shivakumar referred to the Supreme Court's allocation of 177 TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, saying it was Karnataka's responsibility to protect the state's water rights while also ensuring Tamil Nadu received its share.

"Everyone has to accept the law of this country. Supreme Court has very clearly said that they have right to 177 TMC of water. It is our duty to protect their right. It is our right to build the dam and give them water," he added.

The remarks came a day after Shivakumar urged the Centre to expedite statutory clearances for the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project and withdraw the recommendations of the Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats.

Speaking in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Mysuru on Friday, the Karnataka Chief Minister had maintained that the Supreme Court had made it clear that the Mekedatu project should be taken up in Karnataka.

"The Supreme Court has delivered a clear verdict to all of us that Mekedatu has to be built in Karnataka, and no one can stop it. We want you to help us legally," he had said.

Why is Tamil Nadu opposing the Mekedatu dam?

The proposed Mekedatu project has been a major point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as the two states have competing claims over the Cauvery river water.

Karnataka plans to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery at Mekedatu, near its border with Tamil Nadu. The project is intended to store water and help regulate its supply, with Karnataka also projecting it as a source of drinking water and hydropower.

However, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the proposal, arguing that a reservoir in the upper-riparian state could give Karnataka greater control over the river's flow and affect the availability of water for downstream users, particularly farmers in the Cauvery delta.

Tamil Nadu maintains that Karnataka cannot independently proceed with a project that could affect its allocated share of Cauvery water without the consent of the lower-riparian state. It has also sought to prevent the Centre from granting statutory clearances to the project.

Reacting to Shivakumar's remarks, Tagore on Saturday accused the Karnataka leader of taking a "stubborn stance" that went against the interests of Tamil Nadu's farmers and disregarded the Supreme Court's ruling and the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.

In a post on X, Tagore described Shivakumar's statement as "utterly unacceptable", arguing that granting approval to the project without Tamil Nadu's consent would be illegal and could seriously affect farmers in the delta districts.

He also called on the Centre to prevent Karnataka from proceeding with construction at Mekedatu.

"Granting approval for the Mekedatu project without Tamil Nadu's consent is not only illegal but will also severely affect the lives of farmers in the delta districts," Tagore said.

The Tamil Nadu Congress president further vowed to oppose the project, saying his party would take the fight forward to protect the state's water rights.