The Mekedatu Project is a multi-purpose project proposed by the Government of Karnataka for drinking water supply and hydropower generation. It involves the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, Karnataka, about 90 km from Bengaluru and nearly 4 km upstream of the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border.
The project is planned at the confluence of the Cauvery River and its tributary, the Arkavathi River, making it strategically important in the Cauvery basin.
Key Features
The project envisages the construction of a 99-metre-high and 735-metre-long concrete gravity dam, along with an underground powerhouse and a water conductor system. The proposed reservoir will have a storage capacity of 67 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of water.
The stored water is intended primarily to meet the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru and surrounding areas, while the hydropower component is expected to generate 400 MW of electricity.
Environmental Concerns
The implementation of the project would lead to the submergence of more than 5,000 hectares of protected forest land within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary. Environmental groups have raised concerns regarding the loss of biodiversity, habitat fragmentation, and the impact on wildlife in the region.
The Dispute with Tamil Nadu
The Mekedatu Project remains a major point of contention between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As the lower riparian state, Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the project, arguing that it could adversely affect the flow of Cauvery waters into its territory.
According to Tamil Nadu, the Mekedatu region represents the last free-flowing point in Karnataka from where Cauvery water enters Tamil Nadu without obstruction. The state contends that the construction of a large balancing reservoir could enable Karnataka to regulate or withhold water flows, thereby affecting the implementation of the Cauvery water-sharing arrangements.
Recent Development
The Supreme Court recently dismissed Tamil Nadu's petition seeking a review of its November 2025 judgment, which had held that the challenge to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project was premature, as the necessary statutory approvals for the project had not yet been completed.
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In every Lecture. Director Sir will provide conceptual understanding with around 800 Mindmaps.
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