TN CM Vijay Urges PM Modi to Halt Mekedatu Project Approvals!
TN CM Vijay Urges PM Modi to Halt Mekedatu Project Approvals!
Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay appeals to PM Modi to block Mekedatu project approvals, citing Supreme Court rulings & inter-state water laws. A crucial plea for fair water distribution!
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has escalated the contentious Mekedatu project issue to the highest level, writing to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, July 28, 2026. In his urgent plea, Mr. Vijay called for the Prime Minister's intervention to ensure that no statutory or administrative approval is granted for the Mekedatu project. This approval, he stressed, should only proceed if it is demonstrably consistent with both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the definitive judgment of the Supreme Court.
A significant point of contention highlighted in the Chief Minister's letter was the recent reply given by the Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, in Rajya Sabha on July 27. The Minister had stated that the Supreme Court's judgment of February 16, 2018, does not explicitly require Karnataka to obtain the consent of lower riparian States before constructing a structure across the Cauvery. Mr. Vijay expressed strong disapproval, asserting that the Minister's reply disregarded settled law and established legal principles concerning inter-State water disputes. He specifically demanded the withdrawal of this reply.
The Chief Minister's letter strongly refuted the Union Minister's position, describing it as "disappointing" and made "without taking into consideration the prevailing legal position and settled law with regard to the consent of the lower riparian States." Mr. Vijay underscored the Supreme Court's stance, recalling the Constitution Bench's ruling in the Alamatti case (between Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh). This pivotal judgment unequivocally declared that the consent of the lower riparian State is "absolutely necessary."
To further bolster his argument, Mr. Vijay directly quoted a relevant paragraph from the Alamatti judgment: “Nor can Karnataka State be permitted to construct up to that height without the consent of all other riparian States as well as without the approval of the Central Government…” He also pointed out that the Supreme Court had explicitly affirmed Clause XVIII of the Cauvery Tribunal Award, which is designed to protect the interests of riparian states, suggesting a consistent legal framework that requires such consent. The Chief Minister's appeal to PM Modi seeks to uphold these legal precedents and ensure equitable water sharing practices are maintained.
