Asserting that Tamil Nadu will nip in the bud any attempt to construct a dam at Mekedatu near the interstate border by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu minister Duraimurugan on Thursday refuted certain media reports that the Supreme Court had given the go ahead for building the reservoir.
With the opposition AIADMK and PMK pouncing on the DMK government following the Supreme Court rejecting as premature Tamil Nadu’s plea to restrain the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) authority from deliberating on the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by Karnataka, the Minister has come out with a detailed rebuttal.
“We will nip in the bud any effort by Karnataka to build the dam at Mekedatu and protect our farmers. We have successfully stalled efforts to build the dam. The Supreme Court, in its order passed today (Thursday, November 13, 2025) has made it clear that Tamil Nadu can present its objections against the construction of the dam before the CWMA and the Central Water Commission (CWC) and that no decision should be taken without hearing Tamil Nadu’s views.
“The State Government will forcefully put forward its arguments before the CWMA and CWC,” he said and refuted certain media reports claiming that the apex court had given its nod for the construction of the dam.
“The Dravidian Model Government of MK Stalin will never ever give up the rights of the Delta farmers. We will prevent any attempt by Karnataka to construct a new dam in violation of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s award and the Supreme Court rulings,” the statement read, adding “Because of the sustained multiple efforts of the state government, till now the DPR had not been discussed at the CWMA. Further, CWMA had returned the proposal to the CWC in February 2024, which was a victory for Tamil Nadu.”
The Minister said Tamil Nadu had countered at every step of Karnataka in proceeding with the 67 TMC dam project.
“When Karnataka submitted a Feasibility Study to the CWC in 2018, Tamil Nadu approached the apex court. Later, when Karnataka sought clearance from the Union Environment Ministry to hold Environment Impact Assessment study, we moved the Supreme Court in 2020 and then when the Union Government decided that the CWMA had the power to examine the DPR, Tamil Nadu had moved a petition in the apex court in June 2022,” it was explained.
Taking exception to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s remark that Karnataka had released more than the stipulated quantum of water to Tamil Nadu in 2025-26 and the Mekedatu dam will not adversely affect the lower riparian state, Duraimurugan countered that it is unacceptable since the upper riparian state had no other option but to let water during years of heavy rainfall.
“During deficit years, Karnataka has not released the stipulated quantity of water. Given this reality, construction of Mekedatu dam would pose a grave threat to the farmers of Tamil Nadu. Further, his views are contrary to the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s award and Supreme Court directives,” he pointed out.