Chennai, May 25 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, C. Joseph Vijay, on Monday directed officials to intensify and expedite legal efforts related to the contentious Mekedatu dam project, reaffirming the state government’s stand on protecting Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery river water.

The Chief Minister issued the instructions during a high-level consultative meeting held at the Secretariat with Cauvery river water experts, legal luminaries, ministers, and senior government officials.

The meeting was convened in the backdrop of reports that the Karnataka government is preparing to conduct the proposed bhoomi poojan for the Mekedatu dam project, a move that has once again revived concerns in Tamil Nadu over potential impacts on water sharing.

According to an official release, the meeting focussed on assessing the legal and technical aspects of the project and identifying further measures to safeguard Tamil Nadu’s interests in the long-running inter-state river dispute.

During the discussions, experts briefed the Chief Minister on the legal developments surrounding the case.

Officials pointed out that the Supreme Court, while delivering its judgment on November 11, 2025, had disposed of petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government challenging the Mekedatu project.

The court had observed that the issue of whether the project complied with earlier judicial directions and river water sharing arrangements would be determined by the Central Water Commission (CWC), which consists of technical experts.

The meeting was also informed that Tamil Nadu’s review petition, filed against the Supreme Court judgment on December 11, 2025, had subsequently been dismissed.

Taking these developments into account, Chief Minister Vijay instructed officials to hold detailed legal consultations and accelerate the next course of action available to the state.

He stressed the need for a comprehensive legal strategy to ensure that Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water are fully protected.

The meeting was attended by Water Resources Minister S. Anand, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna, and Energy and Law Minister C.T.R. Nirmalkumar.

Chief Secretary M. Saikumar, Advocate General Vijay Narayan, Water Resources Department Principal Secretary Satyabrata Sahu, and Chairman of the Cauvery Technical Cell and Interstate River Water Wing R. Subramanian also participated, with some officials joining through videoconference.

—IANS

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