Karnataka CM seeks faster clearances for Mekedatu and other water projects
Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar met Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil on Monday and pressed for quicker decisions on several major water projects, including the proposed Rs 16,745-crore Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project.
Shivakumar said the State needed timely decisions on pending water-related matters to address drinking water, irrigation and drought-management requirements. He also said Karnataka was seeking to utilise what it considers its legitimate share of available water resources.
According to Shivakumar, the Central Water Commission has inspected the Mekedatu area and Karnataka has identified alternative land to compensate for forest land that would be used for the project.
He said the central authorities had understood the nature of the proposal and maintained that it was not intended for agricultural irrigation. Shivakumar added that he had asked Tamil Nadu representatives to inspect the project area.
Karnataka submitted the project’s DPR and compliance report to the CWC on August 13, 2026, for appraisal. Shivakumar urged the Centre to complete the process on priority and issue the necessary clearances.
The Deputy Chief Minister also raised the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal-II award. He requested the Union ministry to approach the Supreme Court, become a party to the proceedings and seek early publication of the award in the Gazette.
The Supreme Court considered the matter on September 23 and listed it along with pending civil appeals for November 4. Shivakumar said early notification would enable Karnataka to make use of its allocated water share and proceed with related irrigation works.
He also sought central support for the Upper Bhadra Project, whose revised cost of Rs 21,167.93 crore was considered by the Ministry of Jal Shakti’s Advisory Committee in March this year.
Karnataka has asked that the project be recommended to the 16th Finance Commission for inclusion under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana and that central funding announced in the 2023-24 Union Budget be released.
The State has also submitted proposals under PMKSY and the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme for irrigation, modernisation and flood-control measures.
On the Godavari-Cauvery Link and Bedti-Varada projects, Karnataka has conveyed in-principle agreement to the National Water Development Agency’s proposal to sign a Memorandum of Agreement, subject to certain conditions.