CWC Rejects Updated Mekedatu Proposal Over Water Allocation Breaches
The Central Water Commission has returned Karnataka's refreshed Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu Reservoir, flagging excessive water usage. Federal officials demand a new plan that strictly adheres to established legal limits set by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal.
Key takeaways
- The Central Water Commission returned Karnataka's Mekedatu DPR on June 29, 2026, citing non-compliance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award.
- Karnataka attempted to increase consumptive water use to 6.95 tmcft, nearly double the estimated 3.6 tmcft remaining in its legal allocation.
- The revised project scope added the Shivanasamudra Run-of-River Power project and a diversion weir not present in the 2019 original filing.
- The CWC specifically questioned the technical basis for the proposed reservoir's 59.46 tmcft live storage capacity.
- Karnataka officials maintain the reservoir will help regulate water flows to Tamil Nadu during high-rainfall seasons despite ongoing legal disputes.
Federal Authorities Halt Mekedatu Expansion
The Central Water Commission (CWC) has formally returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project to the Karnataka government. In a directive issued on June 29, the federal body instructed the state to rework its submission to align with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award. The CWC identified that the revised plan, submitted by Karnataka on April 21, 2026, exceeded authorized water consumption limits.
Discrepancies in Consumption and Storage Design
Central regulators noted a significant upward shift in the project's scope compared to the initial 2019 submission. While the original proposal centered solely on the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir, the latest version added the Shivanasamudra Run-of-River Power (SRRP) Project and a new diversion weir. Most notably, the intended consumptive water use jumped from 4.75 tmcft to 6.95 tmcft. The CWC maintains these figures are untenable under the Supreme Court's February 16, 2018, ruling, which capped total consumptive use for Karnataka's urban and rural populations at 6.5 tmcft.
Technical observers also challenged the state's engineering estimates. The CWC letter specifically labeled the calculation method for the reservoir's 59.46 tmcft live storage capacity as inappropriate. Officials clarified that after accounting for current usage, the available remaining allocation for the project sits at roughly 3.6 tmcft or less—far below Karnataka's current 6.95 tmcft request.
Legal Friction and State Response
Despite the federal pushback, Karnataka government insiders describe the CWC requirements as a procedural formality, claiming that necessary technical adjustments are already underway. The state argues the reservoir serves to regulate excess flows that currently enter Tamil Nadu during monsoons. While Tamil Nadu has historically opposed the project as detrimental to its interests, the Supreme Court recently characterized such objections as premature, reiterating that Karnataka remains legally bound to ensure the water shares for lower riparian states are met.
- Initial 2019 proposal: 4.75 tmcft consumptive use.
- Revised 2026 proposal: 6.95 tmcft consumptive use.
- Supreme Court limit: 6.5 tmcft total allocation.
- Available remaining quantum: ~3.6 tmcft.
Source: The Hindu — National
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