SC Verdict Doesn't Require TN Consent for Cauvery Projects, Centre Tells Parliament

Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary informed Parliament on Monday that there is no mention in the Supreme Court’s final verdict on the Cauvery water dispute stating that Karnataka should obtain the consent of lower riparian states, including Tamil Nadu, for any new construction projects across the Cauvery river.

The Union Minister gave this official response while replying to a question raised by Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) Member of Parliament Anbumani Ramadoss in Parliament. The question specifically asked whether Karnataka was required to secure the consent of downstream lower riparian states before taking up the Mekedatu project.

In his reply, the minister cited the Supreme Court's February 2018 order which found Clause XVIII of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT) Award of 2007 to be appropriate. The apex court had reiterated in its final order that nothing in the order of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal shall impair the right, power, or authority of any state to regulate within its boundaries the use of water or to enjoy the benefits of water within that state in a manner not inconsistent with the order of the tribunal.

The response from the Jal Shakti ministry comes amid Tamil Nadu's continued opposition to the proposed Mekedatu project. Tamil Nadu maintains that the proposed reservoir could adversely impact its rightful share of Cauvery waters.

Speaking on the present status of the proposal, Union Minister Raj Bhushan Choudhary further said that the detailed project report (DPR) of the Mekedatu balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project submitted by Karnataka in 2019 had been returned to the project authority.

The minister noted that the detailed project report was returned with a request to submit a revised DPR in compliance with the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal award and as per the extant guidelines of the Central Water Commission (CWC).