A major political clash has erupted within the Congress party over the contentious Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery River. The friction stems from Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite statutory clearances for the proposed reservoir during a public event in Mysuru.
Shivakumar’s remarks triggered immediate backlash from Tamil Nadu Congress President Manickam Tagore, who slammed the Karnataka CM’s “stubborn stance.” Tagore accused Shivakumar of violating Supreme Court rulings and the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s award, warning that the dam would destroy Tamil Nadu farmers’ livelihoods. He urged the Centre to withhold approval without lower-riparian consent.
Dismissing the criticism, Shivakumar asserted that no one could stop the project and invited Tagore to inspect the site. Meanwhile, the ruling TVK government in Tamil Nadu strongly condemned Shivakumar, with Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar accusing him of making election-timed remarks and lacking necessary environmental clearances. The opposition DMK also pressured the state government to take stronger legal action and convene an all-party meeting.
The proposed Mekedatu reservoir aims to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and generate 400 MW of power, with Karnataka maintaining that Tamil Nadu’s water share will remain safe. However, Tamil Nadu remains fiercely opposed, setting the stage for an intense inter-state standoff.
