Mekedatu Dam Project
Context:
The Karnataka government recently decided to submit a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the Centre for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River.
This follows a Supreme Court observation terming Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the project as "premature," clearing the way for the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Central Water Commission (CWC) to examine the proposal
About the Project:
It is proposed at Mekedatu (meaning "Goat's Leap")
It is located about 100 km from Bengaluru, at the confluence of the Cauvery and its tributary, the Arkavathi.
It involves building a balancing reservoir with a storage capacity of 67 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) and a 400 MW hydroelectric power component
The estimated cost is around ₹9,000 crore.
The objective is to supply 4.75 TMC of drinking water annually to Bengaluru and its surrounding areas.
The Conflict:
Tamil Nadu's Stance:
The lower riparian state opposes the project, apprehending that it will allow Karnataka to store water excessively and release it only at will, potentially violating the tribunal's water-sharing award.
Karnataka's Stance:
It argues the project is essential for Bengaluru's drinking water needs and will help regulate the flow to Tamil Nadu, especially during distress years, by storing excess water.
Current Status:
The CWMA had earlier referred the project back to the CWC.
With the recent developments, the Authority and CWC can now facilitate discussions between the two states to find an amicable solution.