- November 19, 2025
Karnataka To Submit Revised Mekedatu DPR After Supreme Court Win, Moves Swiftly On Project
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Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, affirmed the state’s resolve to push the long-pending project forward
To expedite the project on the ground, the Water Resources Department is establishing new operational hubs. Image/News18
Days after the Supreme Court dismissed a plea by Tamil Nadu against the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, Karnataka has moved swiftly, with Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announcing the submission of a fresh and revised Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Speaking to reporters after a high-level meeting with officials and the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam Board of Directors on Tuesday, Deputy CM Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, affirmed the state’s resolve to push the long-pending project forward.
“In the meeting, we discussed how to take the project forward post the Supreme Court order,” he said. “The earlier DPR was based on 2018-19 Standard Report (SR) data, and we need to make necessary revisions. We will submit a new DPR wherein we will provide complete details of the forest area getting submerged.”
Legal Context and Project Push
The Supreme Court had last week declined to entertain Tamil Nadu’s application challenging the project, terming the objection “premature” and stating that the final decision rests with expert bodies like the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). Karnataka’s legal team hailed the verdict as “justice” for the state’s rights over the Cauvery waters.
“This is not about a setback or a victory for any party, but it has given justice to the people of Karnataka. Mekedatu is a project for our drinking water needs, and it doesn’t affect Tamil Nadu in any way; in fact, it benefits them,” Shivakumar asserted, reiterating the state’s official stance.
To expedite the project on the ground, the Water Resources Department is establishing new operational hubs.
“We have already started the project office in Harobele. We have also decided to open the office of the Chief Engineer and the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) at Ramanagara. Required staff would be given to these offices immediately,” Shivakumar confirmed.
When questioned about the procedural submission, particularly to the CWMA, he stated, “We will make necessary corrections and submit a revised one. We will submit it to the authorities required by the law.”
The Mekedatu project, a multi-purpose scheme located near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, is designed primarily to provide drinking water to the Bengaluru Metropolitan Region and generate 400 MW of hydroelectric power. The project’s earlier design was expected to cause the submergence of close to 5,000 hectares, most of which is forest land, making the environmental clearance process critical.
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi…Read More
Harish Upadhya, an Assistant Editor at CNN-News18, reports from Bengaluru. Political reporting is his forte. He also tracks India’s space journey, and is passionate about environmental reporting and RTI investi… Read More
November 19, 2025, 05:40 IST
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