Source: IE
Context: The Mekedatu dam project, located in the Ramanagaram district of Karnataka, has sparked a long-running dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
| Mekedatu Dam and Cauvery River Dispute | ||
| Mekedatu Dam Project | The project aims to build a dam and reservoir on the Cauvery River to supply drinking water to Bengaluru and replenish groundwater. It also aims to generate 400 MW of power. The Karnataka government approved the project in 2017. |  |
| Reasons for Opposition | Tamil Nadu opposes any project in the upper riparian without Supreme Court approval. Tamil Nadu argues that the project is unauthorized and could harm its interests, violating the orders of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court. | |
| Cauvery River | It is the third largest river – after Godavari and Krishna – in southern India, and the largest in the state of Tamil Nadu, known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil. Originates in Karnataka (Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri range in the Western Ghats, Kodagu district), flows through Tamil Nadu and drains into the Bay of Bengal through Pondicherry.
Tributaries: tributaries include Harangi, Hemavati, Kabini, Bhavani, Lakshmana Tirtha, Noyyal, and Arkavati. |
|
| The Dispute | The dispute dates back to agreements in 1892 and 1924 and revolves around the principle that the upper riparian state (Karnataka) must obtain the consent of the lower riparian state (Tamil Nadu) for any construction activities on the river. In 1990, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was established to resolve the matter, and in 2007, it issued its final order on water sharing. The Supreme Court of India upheld the order in 2018, reducing Karnataka’s allocation of water to Tamil Nadu. | |
| Way Forward | Cooperation and coordination are needed between states. Basin-level planning for sustainable and ecologically viable solutions. Focus on water conservation measures, such as afforestation and micro-irrigation. Increase water use efficiency and promote water-smart strategies | |
