Congress Accuses DMK of ‘Cheap Politics’ Amid Mekedatu Controversy

The political controversy surrounding the proposed Mekedatu dam project intensified on Monday after C Joseph Vijay chaired a high-level review meeting to discuss legal and administrative measures to oppose Karnataka’s plan to construct a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river .

According to an official release, the meeting focused on safeguarding Tamil Nadu’s water rights and farmers’ interests amid reports that Karnataka was preparing for the project’s “ Bhumi puja ” or groundbreaking ceremony.

The development comes amid a sharp war of words between the DMK and the Congress over the issue. Congress MP B Manickam Tagore recently accused the DMK of indulging in “cheap politics” after senior DMK leader K N Nehru criticised the Congress government in Karnataka for backing the project.

Nehru had targeted Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar over remarks supporting the dam, calling them “arrogant” and against Tamil Nadu’s interests. He maintained that no construction activity could proceed without the consent of lower riparian states, in line with Supreme Court directions.

During Monday’s meeting, the Tamil Nadu government reviewed ongoing legal cases related to the Mekedatu issue. Officials noted that the Supreme Court had earlier dismissed Tamil Nadu’s review plea concerning a ruling that questions related to the project’s technical feasibility fall within the domain of central expert bodies.

The Chief Minister directed officials to expedite legal steps after detailed consultations. Ministers N Anand , Adhav Arjuna and R Nirmalkumar , along with Advocate General Vijay Narayan , attended the meeting.

Karnataka has maintained that the proposed reservoir is aimed at meeting Bengaluru’s drinking water needs and generating electricity. However, Tamil Nadu fears the project could reduce downstream water flow, affecting irrigation in the Cauvery delta region.