Tamil Nadu CM orders legal action on Karnataka Mekedatu dam

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has directed state officials to pursue further legal action against Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project, following the Supreme Court's dismissal of a review petition. The move comes amid renewed tensions over the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, triggered by Karnataka's plans to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the reservoir.

During a high-level review meeting at the state secretariat on Sunday, officials briefed the Chief Minister on the legal status of the case. They noted that the Supreme Court, in a ruling on November 13, 2025, had clarified that no approval had been granted for the Mekedatu project and that the proposal remained at a preliminary stage. The court stated that an expert committee under the Central Water Commission must determine whether the project complies with earlier judgments. A subsequent review petition filed by Tamil Nadu on December 11, 2025, was recently dismissed by the court. Taking these developments into account, Vijay instructed officials to expedite follow-up legal measures after obtaining detailed legal consultation.

In a separate letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, Chief...