Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 27 requesting that the Centre halt Karnataka’s construction of the Mekedatu dam across the Cauvery river. Vijay formally urged federal intervention in a long-running interstate water dispute pitting Tamil Nadu against Karnataka.
Mekedatu project plans involve a reservoir and drinking water supply infrastructure that Tamil Nadu argues will reduce downstream flows critical for irrigation. Karnataka maintains the project falls within its rights under tribunal awards subject to regulatory clearance.
Vijay’s letter followed his first Delhi visit after assuming office earlier in May, combining diplomatic courtesy with hard policy demands. India TV reported the dispute dominated regional headlines alongside his meetings with Modi at Seva Teerth.
Cauvery conflicts have produced decades of litigation, protests, and seasonal release orders monitored by the Supreme Court and tribunals. Tamil Nadu farmers watch reservoir levels closely during monsoon and dry spells affecting paddy cultivation.
Federal mediation roles remain essential because riparian states rarely resolve such stakes bilaterally. May 27 reporting indicated Vijay would press the issue across meetings with Union ministers during his national outreach week.
Previous Cauvery disputes produced Supreme Court-directed release schedules that both states cite when new infrastructure projects are proposed on the shared basin. Farmers’ associations in Tamil Nadu planned demonstrations if central approvals for Mekedatu construction advance without their consent.
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Sources:
https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/tamil-nadu-cm-joseph-vijay-meets-pm-modi-during-first-delhi-visit-after-taking-office-2026-05-27-1042683