Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Saturday hit back at Tamil Nadu Congress president Manickam Tagore over his criticism of the proposed Mekedatu Dam, asserting that Karnataka has the right to build the project and that he was least bothered by political opposition from Tamil Nadu.Responding to Tagore’s tweet condemning his statement that “No one can stop the construction of a dam at Mekedatu”, Shivakumar said, “Let anyone condemn; I am least bothered. It is my state, my right.”He invited Tamil Nadu leaders to visit the proposed project site, saying he was willing to explain how the dam would benefit the region.“Let them come with a delegation; I will show them and explain to them how it helps,” he said.Dismissing the criticism as political posturing, Shivakumar said opposition to the project would continue irrespective of which party raised the issue in Tamil Nadu.“If Congress doesn’t condemn, DMK will condemn. If DMK doesn’t condemn, AIADMK will condemn. Then everyone may condemn,” he said.Defending Karnataka’s position, Shivakumar invoked the Supreme Court’s Cauvery water-sharing order, asserting that the state would protect Tamil Nadu’s allocated share of 177 TMC of water while pursuing the dam project.The proposed Mekedatu project is a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river near Kanakapura in Karnataka. It is intended to meet Bengaluru’s drinking water requirements and generate around 400 MW of electricity.Karnataka has maintained that the reservoir would help regulate the flow of the Cauvery and store surplus water during periods of high inflow. It has also argued that the project would not affect Tamil Nadu’s allocated share of river water.
Tamil Nadu, however, has consistently opposed the project, arguing that an upstream reservoir could affect the flow of Cauvery water into the state, particularly during periods of shortage. It has maintained that Karnataka cannot proceed without the consent of the other Cauvery basin states.The dispute is rooted in the long-running Cauvery water-sharing conflict between the two states. The Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict modified the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s allocation and awarded Tamil Nadu 177.25 TMC of water, while Karnataka received 284.75 TMC.