Tue Nov 18 16:07:20 UTC 2025: News Article:

Karnataka to Submit Fresh DPR for Mekedatu Reservoir Project Following Supreme Court Ruling

Bengaluru, November 18, 2025 – Karnataka has announced its decision to submit a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) to the central government for the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery River. This decision comes after the Supreme Court declined to entertain Tamil Nadu’s challenge against the project, deeming their objection “premature.”

The decision was made at a high-level meeting, followed by a Board meeting of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigama. Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, stated that the previous DPR was rejected due to certain deficiencies that needed to be rectified.

The new DPR will include comprehensive details of the project, particularly focusing on the extent of forest land that would be submerged.

To facilitate the project, an office housing senior officials, including the Chief Engineer and Chief Conservator of Forest, will be established in Ramanagara. This location was selected due to its proximity to both the project site and the Mandya district, which is part of the project’s area of impact.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai, affirmed that Karnataka would still be obligated to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry as per established allocations. Karnataka maintains that the Mekedatu reservoir is crucial for ensuring the consistent release of water to the lower riparian states, even during periods of water scarcity.

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