Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay moves a resolution in the Assembly against the Karnataka government’s Mekedatu dam proposal
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday (June 18, 2026) unanimously adopted a resolution moved by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, objecting to the proposal of the Karnataka government for constructing a balancing reservoir across Cauvery at Mekedatu.
“This august House records its strong objection to the unilateral attempt of the Karnataka government to construct a dam across Cauvery at Mekedatu without respecting the final award given by Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal on February 5, 2007, and the Supreme Court judgment on February 16, 2018, without obtaining the concurrence of the concerned basin States, and without securing any approval from the Union government,” read the resolution moved by Mr. Vijay.
The resolution urged the Union government not to grant any form of approval, including technical and environmental clearances, to the Mekedatu project. The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court have observed the Cauvery basin is a deficit basin and the total available water in the basin has already been apportioned among the basin States. Therefore, no new project can be undertaken in the Cauvery basin, nor can any additional quantity of water be utilised, the resolution said.
“The Cauvery issue is a highly sensitive matter between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka,” the resolution noted. It urged the Centre to advise Karnataka government not to undertake the construction of a dam or any new water storage project at Mekedatu or at any location in the Cauvery basin without the concurrence of the other basin States and without the approval of the Union government.
The resolution also urged the Central Water Commission (CWC) not to examine, process, or grant approval to the Detailed Project Report submitted by the Karnataka government.
Published – June 19, 2026 12:24 pm IST
