Mekedatu: CWC asks Karnataka to submit revised DPR

Published 30 July 2026 · local

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project, which was modified on April

The Central Water Commission (CWC) has returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project, which was modified on April 21, 2026, asking the State to submit a revised DPR in compliance with Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and certain observations made by it. In a letter dated June 29 to Karnataka, the CWC has observed that the “proposed consumptive use of water is more than allocation” and asked the State to revise the DPR accordingly. The DPR for the project had been submitted to the CWC for the first time by Karnataka in January 2019. As per the DPR, the project aims for additional 4.75 tmcft of consumptive use of water to provide drinking water to Bengaluru Metropolitan Region and its adjoining area. Additional components “The DPR had then proposed only the construction of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir.

However, in the revised Scheme submitted on April 21 apart from the construction of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir, additional components like Shivanasamudra Run-of-River Power (SRRP) Project with the construction of a diversion weir across the Cauvery River have also been proposed. Further, proposed consumptive use has also been increased to 6.95 tmcft from earlier 4.75 tmcft,” observed the letter by the CWC. The CWC has noted that a total consumptive use of 6.5 tmcft has been finalised and allocated by the Supreme Court in its order dated February 16, 2018, to Karnataka for its urban and rural population. This quantum includes present consumptive use, it points out. “It is to mention that present consumptive use may be more than the 36-year-old consumptive use of 2.9 tmcft. If even 36-year-old consumptive use of 2.9 tmcft is considered, the balance quantum of only 3.6 tmcft or less than that can be proposed to be utilised instead of 6.95 tmcft as proposed in the revised scheme.” the CWC stated in the letter.

The CWC has also observed that the basis for determining the Live Storage Capacity of 59.46 tcmft for the proposed Mekedatu reservoir does not seem to be appropriate. “It is requested to submit the revised DPR in compliance with the CWDT Award and above mentioned observations, incorporating all the necessary updated details/drawings, etc. as per the CWC guidelines for Submission, Appraisal & Acceptance of Irrigation and Multipurpose Projects, 2017,” the letter stated. ‘A procedural thing’ Meanwhile, highly placed sources in the Karnataka government said, “This is just a procedural thing. We have already made appropriate revisions as suggested by the CWC and there should be no reason for worry.” Karnataka has proposed to take up the Mekedatu project in Bengaluru South District (Erstwhile Ramanagara District) as nearly double the quantum of water stipulated by the Supreme Court has flown to Tamil Nadu during several good monsoon years.