Amid Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar’s recent declaration that the survey for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir is complete and land acquisition is underway, the Tamil Nadu BJP has lashed out at the ruling DMK for its silence. The criticism centers on the DMK’s alliance with the Congress, which leads the government in Karnataka.
Tamil Nadu BJP State Secretary S.G. Suryah strongly criticized Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, accusing him of failing to speak up on an issue that threatens Tamil Nadu’s water security.
Posting on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Suryah mocked Stalin’s silence, saying, “Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister @DKShivakumar says they have started the dam construction work at Mekedatu! But Chief Minister @mkstalin, who boasts of being a ‘Delta man,’ has sacrificed the lifeline of the Delta, the Cauvery, for the sake of the @INCIndia alliance and is now observing a false silence eating mixture. Enough of eating mixture, Chief Minister! Our Central @narendramodi government has repeatedly assured that the Mekedatu dam cannot be built without Tamil Nadu’s consent.”
Suryah added that the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has clearly maintained that no dam at Mekedatu can be constructed without Tamil Nadu’s consent. He then questioned the intentions behind the DMK’s silence, “So, for whom is this silence of the anti-Tamil Nadu Congress-DMK alliance? Will Tamil Nadu Congress President Mr. @spk_tncc answer this?”
மேகதாதுவில் அணைகட்டும் பணிகளைத் தொடங்கிவிட்டோம் என்கிறார் கர்நாடக துணை முதலமைச்சர் @DKShivakumar !
ஆனால் தன்னை 'டெல்டாகாரன்' என்று மார்தட்டிக்கொள்ளும் முதல்வர் @mkstalin அவர்களோ, டெல்டாவின் ஜீவநாடியான காவிரியை @INCIndia கூட்டணிக்காக காவு கொடுத்துவிட்டு கள்ள மௌனம் சாதித்து… pic.twitter.com/z3xdSUllS8
— Dr.SG Suryah (@SuryahSG) July 2, 2025
The Mekedatu project has long been a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with the latter opposing it over concerns that it could disrupt the flow of the Cauvery River to its delta regions
The BJP’s sharp criticism of the DMK and its ally, the Congress, comes in the wake of remarks made on 30 June 2025, by Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, who reiterated their strong support for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. The leaders argued that water being released from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu has consistently exceeded the stipulated 177.25 TMC (thousand million cubic feet), thereby justifying the need for a storage facility within their state.
At an event held at Brindavan Gardens to offer the traditional ‘bagina’ to the Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah stated that Karnataka fully respects the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Supreme Court directives and has no issue releasing the mandated quantum of 177.25 TMC to Tamil Nadu. However, he pointed out that Karnataka had, in fact, released over 305 TMC to the neighbouring state last year.
He noted that even in June alone, 42 TMC had been discharged far exceeding the monthly quota of 9.1 TMC. Highlighting Karnataka’s consistent compliance, Siddaramaiah added that only in 2023–24, due to deficient rainfall, did the state struggle to meet its water obligations. In times of drought, he stressed, both states should share the burden equitably.
This context, he argued, underscores the necessity of constructing the Mekedatu balancing reservoir. He also criticized Union Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for reportedly claiming that he could secure central approval for the project “in five minutes,” only to later retract the statement.
Deputy CM Shivakumar, meanwhile, said that while the state was still waiting for the Centre’s clearance, it had already begun groundwork for the Mekedatu project. An implementation office has been set up in Kanakapura, and steps to acquire land are underway. He expressed optimism that a favorable court decision would follow soon.
In response to questions about Tamil Nadu reportedly expanding its irrigated areas, Shivakumar remarked that the Cauvery basin in Karnataka has also seen a 6% increase in irrigated land.
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