Anbumani calls on TN Govt. to strengthen opposition to the Mekedat dam

President Pattali Makkal Katchi Anbumani Ramadoss. | Photo credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to step up Tamil Nadu’s efforts to oppose Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam after Karnataka Irrigation Minister Chaluvaraya Swamy met Central Water Commission (CWC) chairman Anupam Prasad and sought speedy approval for the project.

According to him, Karnataka went ahead with the project while the Tamil Nadu government remained “indifferent”. The Karnataka minister asked for an immediate CWC inspection of the proposed dam site and assured that the state would provide any additional technical information required.

Karnataka submitted a detailed project report (DPR) for the project in 2019. Mr. Anbumani said the CWC returned it on June 29 this year citing provisions that conflict with the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court judgment. Karnataka subsequently submitted a revised DPR before 19 August.

He said Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar had announced on August 29 that the state would approach the CWC to expedite the approval, followed by a meeting of the Irrigation Minister with the CWC chairman.

He urged Mr. Vijay to meet the CWC Chairman, the Union Water Resources Minister and the Prime Minister and request rejection of the project. He also sought cancellation of the 2018 permission granted to Karnataka to submit the DPR.

Published – 04 Sep 2026 0:25 IST