T.N. CM Vijay instructs officials to take continued legal action on Mekedatu dam issue

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Monday (May 25, 2026) instructed officials to pursue continued legal action regarding the Mekedatu dam issue, during a meeting with Cauvery river water experts and legal luminaries at the Secretariat.

With the proposed bhoomi pooja by the Karnataka government for the construction of the Mekedatu dam, Mr. Vijay held a consultative meeting to uphold Tamil Nadu’s rights, an official release said. The meeting was attended by Cauvery river water experts, legal experts, Water Resources Minister S. Anand, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, Energy and Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar, and senior government officials.

During the meeting, it was pointed out that on November 11, 2025, the Supreme Court, while ruling on the lawsuits filed by the Tamil Nadu government opposing the Mekedatu project, disposed of the matter by stating that only the Central Water Commission—comprising experts—can determine whether this project complies with previous judgments. It was also highlighted that the review petition filed on December 11 last year against this verdict was dismissed.

According to the release, the Chief Minister, taking these judgments into consideration, directed that subsequent actions to be taken after detailed legal consultation be expedited.

Among others who attended the meeting were Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Principal Secretary of the Water Resources Department Satyabrata Sahu, and, via videoconference, the Chairman of the Cauvery Technical Cell and Interstate River Water Wing, R. Subramanian.