'Not a Drop May Reach Tamil Nadu': PMK's Anbumani Warns Mekedatu Dam Could Choke Cauvery Flow

The long-standing Cauvery water dispute has once again intensified after PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss warned that Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir could significantly reduce the flow of Cauvery water into Tamil Nadu. He claimed that if the project had already been completed, the state would not have received even the current inflows being released from Karnataka's reservoirs. His remarks come amid renewed political and legal developments surrounding the controversial project.

In a statement on Sunday, Anbumani alleged that Karnataka's recent releases from the Kabini reservoir had been erratic, pointing out that discharge levels fluctuated sharply over the past two days. He argued that despite Karnataka's reservoirs holding substantial water, the state was not releasing Tamil Nadu's lawful share and was instead retaining water by diverting it towards the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir. He further claimed that the proposed Mekedatu reservoir, located downstream of Karnataka's major Cauvery reservoirs, would allow the upstream state to store even surplus floodwaters that currently flow into Tamil Nadu, making downstream releases increasingly uncertain.

The remarks come as Karnataka revives efforts to push the project forward by preparing a revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) for submission to the Centre. Karnataka has consistently maintained that the reservoir is intended to provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas, generate hydroelectric power, and store only excess monsoon water without affecting Tamil Nadu's allocated share under the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and the Supreme Court's 2018 judgment.

Tamil Nadu, however, has strongly opposed the project, arguing that any additional storage capacity in Karnataka could alter the timing and quantity of water reaching downstream areas. The state government has approached the Supreme Court and objected to the Centre's recent statement in Parliament that Karnataka does not require Tamil Nadu's consent for new constructions across the Cauvery. Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Union government to withdraw its stand.

The Mekedatu project has remained one of the most contentious interstate river disputes in southern India for years. While Karnataka views it as a vital infrastructure project to address Bengaluru's growing water needs, Tamil Nadu fears it could weaken the implementation of the Cauvery water-sharing arrangement and adversely affect irrigation and drinking water supply across the Cauvery delta. With legal proceedings continuing and political rhetoric escalating, the dispute is expected to remain a major flashpoint between the two neighbouring states.