Mekedatu Project:
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Mekedatu project is a balancing reservoir and drinking water project built at the confluence of the Cauvery and Arkavathi rivers by the Karnataka Government.
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Purpose:
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The project is aimed at solving the drinking water problems of the Bengaluru and Ramanagara district.
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It would also generate 400 MW of hydroelectric power.
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Dispute: The Tamil Nadu Government has objected to the project saying Karnataka had not sought prior permission for the project.
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Tamil Nadu has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court in 2018 seeking a stay on the project.
Objections by Tamil Nadu Government:
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Mekedatu project would affect the flow of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
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Karnataka has no right to construct any reservoir on an inter-state river without the consent of the lower riparian state i.e. Tamil Nadu in this case.
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The project is also against the final order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). During that, the SC held that no state can claim exclusive ownership or assert rights to deprive other states of the waters of inter-state rivers.
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Almost 63% of the forest area of the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary will be submerged in the project.