Another Cauvery Showdown In The Offing? Karnataka Gets Central Nod For ‘Controversial’ Mekedatu Reservoir

The central government has cleared the Pre-Feasibility Report (PFR) for the Mekedatu reservoir submitted by the Karnataka government and the state has now been asked to prepare a draft of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project, The New Indian Express has reported.

With the approval, the decade-long Cauvery dispute is set for even more complications as the neighbouring states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been at loggerheads over water sharing. Another dam on the river in Karnataka may hence lead to protests in Tamil Nadu.

A month ago, the Central Water Commission (CWC) had asked the state government in Karnataka to rework the PFR and revise it according to the recommendations given. An official of the Government of Tamil Nadu, however, has been quoted as saying, “The State will move the Supreme Court and also write to Prime Minister to stop this as it is being done without getting the consent from the lower riparian state.”

Located in Kanakapura, the Mekedatu project has been at the centre of controversies erlier. Tamil Nadu government fears that the dam will further decrease the share of water being released to the state and also cites that the river shall face further blockade to its natural flow.