Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to grant any statutory or administrative clearance for the proposed Mekedatu dam project without obtaining the consent of the neighbouring states sharing the Cauvery river basin.
In a letter to the Prime Minister on Saturday, Vijay expressed concern over reports of a site inspection conducted by officials of the Union government in connection with the project.
He said the reported inspection had heightened concerns among farmers in the Cauvery Delta region, who were already facing difficulties due to inadequate water availability during the 2026–27 water year. He also alleged that Karnataka had failed to release Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of Cauvery water, even on a pro-rata basis.
The Chief Minister stressed that the interests of downstream states must be safeguarded, particularly their rights concerning the quantity of water allocated and the regulated schedule of monthly releases.
