Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu: The Mekedatu dam dispute resurfaced after Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar backed the project and DMK questioned Vijay’s response.

The long-running Mekedatu dam dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has returned to the political spotlight after the issue was raised at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram. Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar strongly defended the proposed project, while the opposition DMK accused Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of failing to directly challenge Karnataka’s stand.

DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran alleged that Vijay remained silent when Shivakumar spoke in favour of building the reservoir. However, Vijay, while not naming Mekedatu directly, told the council that any action by an upper riparian state that could affect the legitimate water share of a lower riparian state must remain within the legal framework.

Maran sharpened the attack on the Tamil Nadu government, arguing that Vijay should have openly opposed the Mekedatu proposal when Shivakumar raised it at the meeting.

The DMK maintains that the proposed reservoir could affect Tamil Nadu’s Cauvery water entitlement, particularly during years of weak rainfall. Tamil Nadu has consistently argued that Karnataka, as the upper riparian state, should not undertake projects that could interfere with scheduled water releases downstream.

Vijay has earlier cited provisions of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award while opposing unilateral interventions that could alter water deliveries.

Shivakumar, however, sought to reassure Tamil Nadu and Puducherry that their interests would not be harmed by the project. He said Karnataka intended to reserve only a limited portion of the stored water for drinking purposes, while the remaining water would continue downstream.

He described Mekedatu as a project that could benefit both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and urged neighbouring states to move from confrontation towards cooperation over river water. Shivakumar also referred to recent discussions involving Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as an example of how interstate water disputes could be addressed through dialogue rather than prolonged confrontation.

The political confrontation comes against the backdrop of a rain-deficient year and continuing disagreements over Cauvery water releases.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee had earlier directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29. Tamil Nadu later approached the Supreme Court alleging that Karnataka had not released the mandated quantity and sought enforcement of the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s directions.

The dispute has also triggered protests in Karnataka, where pro-Kannada groups have opposed what they describe as excessive water-release demands during periods of low reservoir storage.

The proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district remains one of the most sensitive issues in Karnataka-Tamil Nadu relations.

Karnataka says the project is intended to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas and generate hydropower. Tamil Nadu fears that additional upstream storage could reduce water availability during dry periods.

With both states maintaining sharply different positions, Mekedatu is likely to remain a major political and legal issue. The latest exchange between Shivakumar, Vijay and the DMK has now added another layer of political tension to the decades-old Cauvery dispute.