NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday described the Mekedatu dam project, proposed by the state government on the Cauvery river, as a “permanent solution” to the long-standing dispute between Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery river water.“The Mekedatu project is the permanent solution. The Supreme Court has already delivered its judgment, and the central government has also given its response. Taking all that into consideration, we should move forward without wasting any more time,” he said at a press conference after chairing an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water issue, which has flared up again in recent days.The chief minister was referring to the Supreme Court’s November 2025 dismissal of Tamil Nadu’s objection to Karnataka’s detailed project report on the Mekedatu project. In May this year, the top court also rejected Tamil Nadu’s review petition challenging the earlier judgment.The Centre, meanwhile, informed Parliament in July that the Supreme Court’s order does not state that Karnataka requires Tamil Nadu’s consent for any new construction across the Cauvery river.Shivakumar further urged all stakeholders to move forward without wasting any more time, taking the developments into consideration.“Taking all that into consideration, we should move forward without wasting any more time. This is not about Tamil Nadu getting more or Karnataka getting less. We should use this opportunity to bring both states to the table, hold discussions, and resolve the issue amicably. We expect everyone’s cooperation in this effort,” the Congress leader added.
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The Cauvery water dispute revolves around how the river waters should be shared between the two states, particularly during years of low rainfall.The issue resurfaced amid developments concerning the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, proposed by Karnataka. It has been a major point of friction between the two states, with Tamil Nadu traditionally opposing it on the grounds that it would affect the flow of water downstream.The latest tensions have emerged at a time when the Congress is part of the TVK-led new state government in Tamil Nadu. The party was also an ally of the DMK, the previous ruling party, but extended only external support to the government.
