Relevance: GS Paper II – Federalism, Inter-State Water Disputes
Source: The Hindu, Supreme Court Proceedings
The News
The Supreme Court has termed Tamil Nadu’s plea against Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu reservoir across the Cauvery River as premature. Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report (DPR) is still being examined by experts of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
Dispute & Timeline at a Glance
Stakeholder / Year | Concern / Key Development |
| Tamil Nadu | Fears “impounding of flows”; potential reduction in irrigation water downstream. |
| Karnataka | Says TN’s allocation will not be affected; project intended for Bengaluru drinking water and power generation. |
| CWC / CWMA | DPR under technical scrutiny; all approvals mandatory before project execution. |
| Supreme Court (2025) | Terms TN’s plea premature; directs statutory process to continue. |
| 2018 | SC upholds Cauvery Tribunal; mandates non-alteration of water-release patterns. |
| 2021–24 | Karnataka submits DPR; central and inter-state bodies begin examination. |
| 2024–25 | Tamil Nadu approaches SC seeking to restrain CWMA deliberations. |
Larger Issues & Recommendations
Issue | Suggested Measures |
| Inter-state water conflicts | Strengthen basin-level institutions with greater authority. |
| Downstream flow security | Joint hydrological monitoring & transparent data sharing. |
| Ecological concerns | Environmental flow norms & cumulative impact assessments. |
| Governance gaps | Faster decision-making through empowered CWMA & CWC. |
| Development vs equity | Negotiated solutions balancing drinking water, irrigation & ecology. |
UPSC Prelims Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding the Mekedatu project:
- The project requires approval from the Central Water Commission.
- CWMA has a role in evaluating the project’s Detailed Project Report.
- The Supreme Court has allowed immediate commencement of the project.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
One-line Wrap:
The Supreme Court has upheld procedural discipline in the Cauvery dispute, directing that Mekedatu’s fate be decided only after full technical and statutory scrutiny.
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