Chennai, July 28: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the Centre not to grant any statutory or administrative approval to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu project unless it fully complies with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment.
In his letter, the Chief Minister also sought the withdrawal of a statement made in the Rajya Sabha on July 27 by Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary. The Minister had stated that the Supreme Court’s February 16, 2018 judgment does not explicitly require Karnataka to obtain the consent of lower riparian States before constructing a structure across the Cauvery River. Vijay argued that the Minister’s statement overlooked established legal principles governing inter-State river water disputes. He maintained that any approval for the Mekedatu project should strictly adhere to the legal framework laid down by the CWDT and the Supreme Court to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s water rights.
