Assembly Unanimously Passes Resolution Opposing Karnataka's Mekedatu Dam

A special Government resolution moved by Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru C. Joseph Vijay, opposing the Government of Karnataka's unilateral attempt to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, and urging the Union Government not to grant any permission - technical, environmental or otherwise - for the Karnataka Government's Mekedatu dam project, was unanimously adopted by all parties in the Legislative Assembly today (19.6.2026). RESOLUTION "Since the Government of Karnataka's unilateral attempt to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu - disregarding the final award given by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on 5.2.2007 and the judgment delivered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 16.2.2018, without obtaining the consent of the concerned basin States, and without any permission from the Union Government - cannot be accepted in any manner, this House expresses its strong opposition to this action of the Government of Karnataka. This House urges the Union Government not to grant any permission - technical, environmental or otherwise - for the Karnataka Government's Mekedatu dam project. Since the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court have both held the Cauvery basin to be a deficit basin and have allocated the entire water of the basin among the basin States, no new projects can be undertaken, nor can any additional water be utilised, in the Cauvery basin. The Cauvery issue is an emotive issue for both States. This House therefore urges the Union Government to direct the Government of Karnataka that no dam or any new water-storage project should be undertaken by it at Mekedatu or at any other location in the Cauvery basin, without the consent of the other basin States and without the approval of the Union Government. This House also urges the Central Water Commission not to consider or grant approval to the detailed project report of the Government of Karnataka. As requested in the letter of the Government of Tamil Nadu dated 4.3.2026, this House urges the Union Government to constitute a new Tribunal under Section 4 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956. This House unanimously extends its support to all measures taken by the Government of Tamil Nadu to thwart this attempt by the Government of Karnataka and to safeguard the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers." ********* Issued By: Director, DIPR, Chennai-9