DK Shivakumar Seeks Centre Intervention on Mekedatu Project

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has renewed the states push for progress on the Mekedatu project, seeking the Centre’s intervention to speed up the approval process and address issues surrounding the proposed reservoir.

Shivakumar raised the matter during his meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil in Delhi. Karnataka has submitted a revised Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project, with the estimated cost now put at Rs 16,745 crore.

The Chief Minister has asked the Central Water Commission to complete its examination of the revised project proposal on priority. The state submitted the DPR along with a compliance report on August 13, 2026, and has been seeking faster movement on the appraisal and related clearances.

A key part of Shivakumar’s latest approach is an invitation to Tamil Nadu. He said the neighbouring state could send a delegation to the Mekedatu site and examine the proposed project directly. Karnataka, he said, would provide the necessary cooperation during such a visit.

Shivakumar has also indicated that he is willing to hold a direct discussion with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on the issue. The proposal comes amid the long running disagreement between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery basin and the proposed reservoir.

According to the Karnataka government’s position, the water stored through the Mekedatu project is intended for drinking water requirements and is not proposed for irrigation. Shivakumar said the Union Jal Shakti Minister had understood this position during their discussion.

The revised project cost has become another significant aspect of the discussion. The current estimate of Rs 16,745 crore is substantially higher than the earlier estimate of Rs 9,000 crore. Recent reports have attributed the increase to the revised cost calculations and the delay in obtaining the necessary approvals.

The Mekedatu proposal has been under consideration at the central level for several years. Earlier government records show that Karnataka submitted the DPR to the Central Water Commission in January 2019, after receiving in principle clearance for preparing the detailed report.

The Cauvery Water Management Authority has previously considered the project, while the Central Water Commission has remained involved in examining its technical and economic aspects. The approval process has also been affected by the lack of agreement among the basin states.

Shivakumar’s meeting with the Union minister covered several other water related demands from Karnataka. One of them was the Upper Bhadra Project, for which the state is seeking central financial support.

The revised cost of the Upper Bhadra Project is estimated at Rs 21,167.93 crore. Shivakumar has requested that the project receive central assistance and be considered under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana. He has also sought the timely release of assistance announced earlier by the Centre.

The Chief Minister also raised the pending Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal II award. He has asked the Centre to intervene in the matter before the Supreme Court and seek early publication of the award in the Gazette. The issue was taken up before the Supreme Court on September 23 and has been listed with other pending civil appeals for November 4, 2026.

Mahadayi is another water issue for which Karnataka has sought central involvement. Shivakumar said the Union minister had assured him that a meeting involving the Karnataka and Goa chief ministers would be held to discuss the matter.

The state has also asked for faster examination of proposals submitted under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme. These proposals cover irrigation development, infrastructure improvement and flood management measures.

Karnataka has further raised concerns over the proposed Godavari Cauvery and Bedti Varada river link projects. The state has sought what it describes as a fair share of water under the proposed arrangements and has asked the Centre and the National Water Development Agency to examine the matter.

The wider discussion comes as Karnataka continues to seek additional support for drinking water, irrigation and drought management. The state government has been pressing the Centre to move several pending proposals more quickly.

Shivakumar has also said that Karnataka plans to take an all party delegation to Delhi to raise issues related to the Kasturirangan report, drought and water concerns. He has called for representatives of the opposition BJP and JD(S) to be part of the delegation.

For the Mekedatu project, however, the immediate focus remains on the revised DPR and the approval process. Karnataka is seeking faster examination by the Central Water Commission, while also attempting to open a direct channel of discussion with Tamil Nadu.

The proposal to have a Tamil Nadu delegation inspect the project site is aimed at giving the neighbouring state an opportunity to examine Karnataka’s position directly. Whether this approach leads to further discussions will depend on the response from Tamil Nadu and the progress of the central approval process.

For now, the Mekedatu project remains subject to the required statutory and regulatory clearances. Karnataka’s latest appeal places the Centre at the centre of the next stage of the approval process, while the state continues to seek dialogue with Tamil Nadu over the long standing concerns surrounding the project.