Tamil NaduSunday, 21 June 2026·The Hindu - Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu seeks tribunal on Mekedatu, citing 2007 CWDT award and 2018 Supreme Court judgment
Tamil Nadu has asked the Union government to constitute a tribunal on the Mekedatu project, arguing it is beyond the 2007 Cauvery award and the 2018 Supreme Court judgment.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In March 2026, Tamil Nadu sent a communication to the Union government seeking a tribunal on the Mekedatu project, arguing that the proposal is beyond the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and the Supreme Court judgment of 2018.
Key specifics
- The CWDT’s volume IV listed 28 projects, and Tamil Nadu says Mekedatu does not appear in that list.
- The 28 projects were considered by the CWDT to irrigate about 18.85 lakh acres in Karnataka.
- Tamil Nadu invoked Section 2(c) and Section 3 of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, to classify the issue as a water dispute.
- The State also cited Section 4 of the Act, which provides for constitution of a tribunal.
- The catchment contribution between Kabini and Billigundulu was assessed at 80 thousand million cubic feet (TMC) on average.
Exam lens
Polity and river-water disputes, Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956, Section 2(c), Section 3, Section 4, 28 projects, 18.85 lakh acres: TNPSC may ask which legal provisions Tamil Nadu relied on for the Mekedatu dispute.