Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Challenges Centre on Mekedatu Dam Project

On Tuesday, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay expressed his concerns in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the Central Government's recent stance on the Mekedatu dam project proposed on the Cauvery River. Vijay described the government's response in the Rajya Sabha as 'disappointing,' asserting that it failed to acknowledge established legal principles that govern disputes between states over river water. He emphasized that the consent of lower riparian states is crucial, a point he believes was overlooked in the Centre's reply. In his correspondence, Vijay referenced a significant Supreme Court ruling from 2000 in the case of Karnataka vs. Andhra Pradesh, which he argued clearly stipulates that lower riparian states must provide their consent before any construction can take place. He quoted the judgment, highlighting that Karnataka cannot proceed with construction without the agreement of all other states that share the river, as well as the approval from the Central Government.

Vijay further elaborated on the legal framework surrounding the Cauvery River, citing the Cauvery Tribunal Award, which he argues mandates that any project impacting water flow must be consistent with the tribunal's directives. He pointed out specific clauses from the award, indicating that upper riparian states are prohibited from taking actions that could affect scheduled water deliveries without mutual consent and consultation with the regulatory authority. Additionally, he noted that the Central Water Commission had previously returned Karnataka's Detailed Project Report (DPR) in 2019 for necessary revisions to ensure compliance with these regulations. The Chief Minister insisted that the Mekedatu project should not be viewed merely as an engineering endeavor; its legal standing must be evaluated against the backdrop of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award and the Supreme Court's rulings, as well as the rights of lower riparian states.