3-Feb-2022: Construction of dam at Mekedatu

The Feasibility Report (FR) of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to Central Water Commission (CWC) by Government of Karnataka for according "in principle" clearance for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project. The Screening Committee of Central Water Commission in its meeting held on 24.10.2018 accorded “in-principle” clearance for preparation of DPR by project authority (Government of Karnataka) subject to certain conditions including that: “As the main objective of this scheme as stated in the FR is to implement the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal(CWDT) Award as modified by the Hon'ble Supreme Court, acceptance of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) would be a pre-requisite for consideration of the DPR by the Advisory Committee of MoWR, RD & GR”.

Subsequently, DPR of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to CWC by Government of Karnataka in January 2019 and copies of the same were forwarded to Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

The State of Tamil Nadu has requested the Central Government to advise the Government of Karnataka not to take up the Mekedatu project.

Discussion on the DPR of the above project was included as an agenda item during various meetings of CWMA. However, discussion on this issue could not take place due to lack of consensus among party States on this agenda item.

19-Jul-2021: Construction of Mekedatu Dam

The Feasibility Report (FR) of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to Central Water Commission (CWC) by Government of Karnataka for according "in-principle" clearance for preparation of Detailed Project Report (DPR) of the project. The Screening Committee of Central Water Commission in its meeting held on 24.10.2018 accorded “in-principle” clearance for preparation of DPR by project authority (Government of Karnataka) subject to certain conditions.

DPR of Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project was submitted to CWC by Government of Karnataka in January 2019 and copies of DPR were forwarded to Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for obtaining consent of co-basin States for acceptability of the DPR.

The Central Government, by gazette notification of the then Ministry of Water Resources and Ganga Rejuvenation dated 1st June, 2018, constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to give effect to the decision of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its Order, dated the 16th February, 2018. So far, 12 meetings of CWMA and 48 Meetings of CWRC have been held upto 14.07.2021.

16-Feb-2017: Karnataka clears Mekedatu project

Karnataka has decided to implement the ₹5,912 crore Mekedatu multi-purpose (drinking and power) project that involves building a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery near Kanakapura in Ramanagaram district.

The contentious project has been opposed by Tamil Nadu on the ground that it violates the Cauvery tribunal order. A Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, gave in-principle approval for the project, which envisages construction of a balancing reservoir with a storage capacity of 66 tmc ft. The project would ease the drinking water problems of Bengaluru and Ramanagaram districts.

The proposed reservoir would utilise excess water after releasing 192 tmc ft of water to Tamil Nadu as per the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal. The government would place the project before the Central Water Commission as well as the supervisory committee of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Environment and Forests for taking clearances.