SC says TN plea against Mekedatu project premature, DPR under review
SC says TN plea against Mekedatu project premature, DPR under review
SC: Tamil Nadu's challenge to the Mekedatu dam is premature as the draft pre-feasibility report is under review and requires expert concurrence.
The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Tamil Nadu's plea objecting to Karnataka's Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir project, calling the challenge premature at this stage. The court noted that the draft pre-feasibility report for the dam is under consideration by the Central Water Commission and is subject to scrutiny and approval from two expert bodies, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the Cauvery Water Management Authority. “At this stage, what is being done by the order passed by the CWC is only the preparation of the DPR, that too after taking into consideration the objections of Tamil Nadu and the experts of the CWMA and CWRC,” the bench said. The CWC has directed that prior approval from these authorities would be a prerequisite before considering the DPR. In that view, the court found the current application premature. It reiterated its stance of not intervening in matters that require technical expertise.
The bench stressed the need for expert input and emphasized that the court does not possess the technical know-how to adjudicate on river management issues. It recalled its August 25, 2023 order in which it had declined to interfere in the Cauvery water release issue, leaving rainfall and storage assessments to the CWMA.
If the DPR is approved, affected parties, including Tamil Nadu, would be free to take measures in accordance with the law. The ruling underscores the delicate balance in inter-state river governance, where technical scrutiny and administrative procedures shape the timeline of large-scale projects.
Cover image source: Supreme Court finds T.N. challenge to Mekedatu reservoir project ‘premature’ 🔗
