DK Shivkumar's dam push pits Karnataka & TN units against each other

Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar's aggressive push for the Mekedatu reservoir project across river Cauvery has triggered a fresh political confrontation with Tamil Nadu, exposing divisions within the Congress, which is in power in Karnataka and part of the ruling alliance in TN.

The latest flashpoint came after Shivakumar, speaking in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's presence at an event in Mysuru on Friday, urged the Centre to expedite statutory clearances for the long-pending project. The recent Supreme Court rulings has strengthened Karnataka's position, he said, asserting that the state would move ahead with the project.

The remarks have fuelled an immediate backlash from TN, where parties, including the Congress, demanded that the Centre block any move to construct the dam.


TN Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore, speaking in Thanjavur on Saturday, said it was the Union government's responsibility to ensure Karnataka did not proceed with the project.

"We will never allow this project. We will go to any lengths to protect Tamil Nadu's rights," Tagore said. He warned that any move perceived as undermining TN's interests would face strong opposition.

The Opposition DMK also criticised Shivakumar's remarks, while TN vowed to resist Karnataka's efforts to secure approvals for the project.

Shivakumar, however, maintained that Mekedatu was primarily a drinking water project that could not be delayed further.

Unlike the sharp divisions between the two states, Karnataka's parties remain united on the issue. The ruling Congress, BJP and JD(S) have consistently backed the project, arguing that it is critical for meeting the region's long-term water needs and could provide a lasting framework for managing recurring Cauvery disputes.

The project also carries political significance for Shivakumar, whose assembly constituency of Kanakapura includes the proposed reservoir site. Successful implementation would strengthen his political standing while addressing Bengaluru's growing demand for drinking water.

Seeking to moderate the rhetoric, Shivakumar recently said the issue should not be viewed as Karnataka versus Tamil Nadu. Instead, he called for both states to engage in dialogue and arrive at an amicable solution.

TN's opposition AIADMK also criticised the Karnataka government. Party spokesperson Kovai Sathyan accused Shivakumar of misrepresenting the Supreme Court's position to advance a political narrative and warned that such statements could further inflame tensions between the two states.