Mekedatu, Cauvery on the table: Shivakumar speaks, Vijay stays silent, says DMK

The Mekedatu dam project emerged as a key flashpoint at the meeting of southern Chief Ministers, with Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar backing its construction. DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran alleged that Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay remained silent instead of opposing the project.The much-awaited meeting between the chief ministers of the two neighbouring states, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, which have been at odds over the sharing of Cauvery waters amid a rain-deficient year, took place in Mahabalipuram near Chennai.The contentious issue of Karnataka's Mekedatu dam project in Ramanagaram district, around 100 km south of Bengaluru and near the point where the Cauvery enters Tamil Nadu, has now emerged as a major flashpoint in the drought-hit region. Turning up the heat on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, the state's main opposition party, the DMK, alleged that he remained silent throughout the meeting while his Karnataka counterpart, DK Shivakumar, spoke in favour of constructing the Mekedatu dam at the meeting of southern Chief Ministers.Addressing a press conference, DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran said, "At the meeting of southern chief ministers held in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar openly spoke in favour of constructing the Mekedatu dam. However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, who was present there, remained silent without uttering a single word in opposition."For his part, Vijay, without specifically mentioning the Mekedatu reservoir, pointed out while addressing the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting that any interventions by an upper riparian state that could affect the lower riparian state's fair share should proceed within a legal framework. - EndsPublished By: Sayan GangulyPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 23:58 IST