Mekedatu: Centre cites SC order to say Karnataka need not take consent of riparian States to build structure across Cauvery

Published 27 July 2026 · india

In what could bolster Karnataka’s stand on the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has clarified that

In what could bolster Karnataka’s stand on the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river, the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti has clarified that the Supreme Court judgment dated February 16, 2018, on the Cauvery water dispute does not mention that Karnataka must obtain the consent of other riparian States, including Tamil Nadu, to construct any structure across the river. The statement came on Monday in response to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) member Anbumani Ramdoss. He sought to know whether the Centre was aware of the February 2018 Supreme Court judgment relating to the Cauvery water dispute, which, according to the query, required the upper riparian State of Karnataka to obtain the consent of the lower riparian States, including Tamil Nadu, before constructing any structure across the river.

Reply in RS In a written reply, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said, “As per the Supreme Court judgment dated February 16, 2018, regarding the Cauvery water dispute, there is no mention that the State of Karnataka has to obtain the consent of other riparian States, namely Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry, to construct any kind of structure across the river Cauvery.” Throwing light on the legal position, he said the Supreme Court, in its order, had found Clause XVIII of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) Award of 2007 to be appropriate. The Supreme Court had reiterated in its order that “nothing in the order of this tribunal shall impair the right or power or authority of any State to regulate, within its boundaries, the use of water or to enjoy the benefit of waters within that State in a manner not inconsistent with the order of this tribunal,” the Union Minister said.

Present status On the present status of the Mekedatu proposal before the Centre, Mr. Choudhary said, “The Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project submitted by Karnataka in 2019 has been returned to the project authority with a request to submit a revised DPR in compliance with the CWDT Award and the extant CWC guidelines.” Karnataka has been contending that the proposed balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project at Mekedatu in Kanakapura taluk of Bengaluru South district (erstwhile Ramanagara district) will not come in the way of the State releasing the stipulated quantum of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. The State has been arguing that the balancing reservoir would, in fact, help it regulate the flow of water to Tamil Nadu more effectively.