Karnataka can never build a dam in Mekedat, says minister

Water Resources and Rural Development Minister N. Anand said here on Thursday that Karnataka could never build a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedat.

When his attention was drawn by reporters at the Tiruchi airport to Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar’s recent statement that his state did not need Tamil Nadu’s permission to build the dam and that it would definitely take up the project, Mr. Anand said it would never happen, even as Mr. Shivakumar continued to claim that BJP leaders also supported the project.

Mr. Anand later met Union Minister for Jal Shakti CR Patil at a hotel here. They discussed the status of ongoing projects under Jal Jeevan Mission for Rural Water Supply and Jal Shakti Abhiyan for Water Conservation and Ground Water Recharge. They attended a regional conference on project implementation under Jal Jeevan Mission. Senior officials of the Jal Shakti Ministry and officials from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Keralam and Union Territory of Puducherry participated.

During the day, Mr. Anand also made a surprise visit to Upper Anicut (Mukkombu). He discussed with A. Jayakumari, Chief Engineer, River Cauvery Division, Water Resources Department, V. Dinesh Kannan, Assistant Executive Engineer and senior officials on operation and maintenance of dams.

The minister said that the state government has sanctioned ₹126 crore for the rehabilitation of the damaged apron and barrage across the Cauvery river in Mukkomb. The protective apron and dyke structure suffered severe erosion and damage in the Cauvery floods in 2021 and 2022. Renovations will begin soon.

Published – 12 Nov 2026 23:53 IST