**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's response to a parliamentary question (No. 4823) regarding the Mekedatu Dam project proposed by the State Government of Karnataka, as answered on August 21, 2025, by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Shri Raj Bhushan Choudhary.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) granted in-principle clearance to the Feasibility Report (FR) of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project on October 24, 2018, contingent upon the acceptance of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
Karnataka submitted the DPR in January 2019, which was subsequently referred to CWMA by CWC.
During the 28th CWMA meeting held on February 1, 2024, the Authority, after considering the views of the majority of its members, decided to refer the project back to the CWC. This referral was for further examination of the project's various technical and economic aspects to ascertain its overall feasibility. The response does not indicate any in-principle nod, no-objection, or forest clearance granted by the Union Government beyond the initial FR clearance. It also does not indicate any plans to urge the State Government of Karnataka to drop the proposal, nor any plans to reject the proposal outright. The response also does not mention any specific plans to hold consultations with stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Jal Shakti: The Union Government ministry responsible for water resources.
Mekedatu Dam Project: A proposed dam project on the Cauvery River, the subject of the question.
Government of Karnataka: The state government that proposed the Mekedatu dam project.
Cauvery Delta: The delta region of the Cauvery River in Tamil Nadu, an area of concern regarding the dam's impact.
Tamil Nadu: A state in India and a riparian state of the Cauvery River, with concerns about the Mekedatu project.
Raj Bhushan Choudhary: The Minister of State for Jal Shakti who provided the answer to the question.
Central Water Commission (CWC): An organization that accorded in-principle clearance to the Feasibility Report of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA): An authority responsible for the Cauvery River water management, involved in the Mekedatu project's approval process.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF JAL SHAKTI
DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4823
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025
MEKEDATU DAM PROJECT
4823. KM. SUDHA R:
Will the Minister of JAL SHAKTI be pleased to state:
(a) the current status of the Mekedatu dam proposal made by the State Government of Karnataka;
(b) whether the Union Government has given any in-principle nod, no-objection or forest clearance for
the said proposal and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Union Government proposes to hold consultations with all stakeholders including the
farmers in the Cauvery Delta districts of Tamil Nadu and the tail-end farmers on the Mekedatu issue and
if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the Union Government plans to urge the State Government of Karnataka to drop the
Mekedatu project proposal and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Union Government proposes to reject the Mekedatu project proposal in view of
environmental issues besides it being unjust to the rights of the riparian States and if so, the details
thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR JAL SHAKTI
(SHRI RAJ BHUSHAN CHOUDHARY)
(a) to (e) The ‘In-principle’ clearance to the Feasibility Report (FR) of the Mekedatu Balancing
Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project, Karnataka for preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR)
was accorded by the Central Water Commission (CWC) on 24.10.2018 subject to certain conditions,
inter-alia “acceptance of DPR by Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)”. DPR of the
Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir cum Drinking Water Project submitted by the Government of Karnataka
in January 2019 was referred to CWMA by CWC. In the 28thmeeting of CWMA held on 1.2.2024, after
detailed deliberation taking into account the views of the majority of the Members of the CWMA, the
Authority decided to refer back the Project to CWC for examination of various technical/economical
aspects of the project to establish its feasibility.
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