Tamil Nadu Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar accused Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar of politicising the long-standing Mekedatu dam dispute [1, 2].
The conflict over the Cauvery River project affects water security and political stability for two of India's most populous southern states. Tensions often escalate when infrastructure projects on the river border threaten the water supply of downstream regions.
Speaking at the Secretariat in Chennai, Nirmalkumar said that Shivakumar is stoking tensions between the two states [1, 2]. The dispute centers on the proposed Mekedatu dam, located on the Cauvery River at the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border [1, 2].
Nirmalkumar addressed reports regarding a potential bhoomi pooja, a traditional ground-breaking ceremony, for the project. He said that Karnataka cannot hold such a ceremony because the Supreme Court has only requested the submission of a project report [1, 2].
The Tamil Nadu government continues to oppose the construction of the dam, arguing that it would adversely affect the flow of water into its territory. Nirmalkumar said that the issue should be handled peacefully between the two state governments [1, 2].
Legal proceedings regarding the dam remain active in the Supreme Court. The court's current focus remains on the technical details of the project report, rather than granting immediate permission for construction to begin [1, 2].
“Karnataka could not hold a bhoomi pooja because the Supreme Court has only asked for a project-report submission”
The exchange highlights the volatile nature of water-sharing agreements in India, where technical infrastructure projects often become catalysts for regional political mobilization. By linking the project to the Supreme Court's specific procedural requirements, Tamil Nadu is attempting to block symbolic milestones, such as the bhoomi pooja, to prevent the project from gaining political momentum before a legal resolution is reached.
