CHENNAI: Expressing strong displeasure over reported site inspections conducted by central officials at the proposed Mekedatu reservoir location in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, requesting him to intervene immediately.
In his letter, CM Vijay urged the Prime Minister to instruct the Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to refrain from conducting site inspections, technical evaluations, or granting any statutory or administrative clearances for the project without the explicit consent of lower riparian states like Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister highlighted that the proposed 67.16 TMC capacity balancing reservoir by Karnataka across the Cauvery River would severely affect the flow of water guaranteed to Tamil Nadu under the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment. He added that in the current deficit water year (2026–27), farmers in the Cauvery delta are already experiencing acute distress due to Karnataka’s failure to release water even on a pro-rata basis.
”Unilateral site visits or technical assessments by central agencies create deep anxiety among our farming community and undermine lower riparian rights,” CM Vijay stated, reaffirming Tamil Nadu’s firm opposition to any project that alters the established monthly water release schedule.
