Chennai/Bengaluru

Karnataka Minister Priyank Kharge on Friday asserted that his government would continue to defend the state's interests after the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution opposing the proposed Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river.

Responding to the development, Kharge said every state has the right to protect its own interests and maintained that Karnataka's position remains consistent with existing legal provisions.

"My responsibility is to safeguard the interests of Karnataka. Just as Tamil Nadu has passed a resolution in support of its position, we will continue to stand by our state's needs," he said.

Kharge argued that the proposed project is intended to store surplus water that would otherwise flow into the sea and use it for drinking water requirements in Bengaluru and surrounding districts. He added that Karnataka would ensure that no injustice is caused to any stakeholder.

The remarks came after the Tamil Nadu Assembly, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, passed a resolution strongly objecting to Karnataka's plan to build a reservoir at Mekedatu.

The resolution stated that Karnataka's attempt to move ahead with the project without the consent of downstream basin states, and without approvals from the Union Government, was unacceptable. It also urged the Centre not to grant any technical, environmental or administrative clearances for the project.

Tamil Nadu argued that the proposed dam would violate the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal issued in 2007 and the 2018 judgment of the Supreme Court of India on Cauvery water sharing.

The Assembly further noted that both the tribunal and the Supreme Court had recognised the Cauvery basin as a water-deficit region where available water resources had already been allocated among the basin states. Consequently, it contended that no new storage project should be undertaken without the approval of all concerned parties.

Describing the Cauvery issue as a highly sensitive inter-state matter, the resolution called upon the Union Government to direct Karnataka not to proceed with any new dam or water storage project in the basin without obtaining concurrence from other affected states and necessary central approvals.

Tamil Nadu has also sought intervention from the Central Water Commission to stop further processing of Karnataka's detailed project report for the Mekedatu project.

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The Mekedatu proposal has remained a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with Bengaluru arguing it is primarily a drinking water project, while Chennai fears it could affect downstream water availability.