Cauvery water dispute and Mekedatu project

Notes

• The Cauvery water dispute involves the sharing of river water between the upper riparian state (Karnataka) and the lower riparian state (Tamil Nadu).
• The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) final award was issued in 2007 and subsequently amended by the Supreme Court in 2018.
• The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee serve as the established implementation mechanisms for water sharing.
• The Mekedatu project is a proposed balancing reservoir across the Cauvery river in Karnataka, which is opposed by Tamil Nadu due to concerns over irrigation requirements in the delta region.
• Tamil Nadu has historically favored adjudication through tribunals and courts over bilateral negotiations to resolve the river water dispute.
• Data indicates a significant shortfall in water realization for Tamil Nadu; between June 1 and July 23, the state received approximately 3.5 tmc ft against a requirement of 32 tmc ft.
• Legal history includes the dismissal of Tamil Nadu’s petition against Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu dam by the Supreme Court in 2025, followed by the dismissal of review and curative petitions in 2026.

Part of a longer story

This is day 7 of 26 in Mekedatu dam project dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which has been running since 21 June 2026. Reading it whole is usually worth more than reading today alone — the exam asks how something developed.

• Cauvery River water dispute Before
• Cauvery water sharing dispute After
• The whole story 26 entries