Karnataka Says No Cauvery Water to Spare for Tamil Nadu, Pushes Mekedatu as Permanent Fix

Rainfall Shortfall Sparks Water-Sharing Dispute

Patil said Karnataka has never shirked its Cauvery obligations in good years. “In years with good rainfall, we release more than the stipulated 177 TMC to Tamil Nadu,” he wrote on social media. His core complaint centers on drought years, when he says no distress-sharing formula exists to protect Karnataka’s own water needs.

We noted his tweet frames the Mekedatu reservoir project as the long-term fix. Patil said Karnataka needs storage capacity for 65 TMC of water, a figure that includes an additional 14 TMC awarded to the state in the final Cauvery tribunal verdict.

ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿಗೆ ಬಿಡುವಷ್ಟು ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರಿಲ್ಲ: ಮೇಕೆದಾಟು ಯೋಜನೆಯೇ ಬಿಕ್ಕಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಶಾಶ್ವತ ಪರಿಹಾರ

ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಕಾವೇರಿ ಜಲಾನಯನ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಈ ವರ್ಷ ಒಳ್ಳೆಯ ಮಳೆಯೇ ಆಗಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಾಗಿ ಈ ವ್ಯಾಪ್ತಿಯ ಜಲಾಶಯಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ನೀರಿಲ್ಲ. ಹೀಗಿರುವಾಗ ಕಾವೇರಿ ನೀರು ನಿಯಂತ್ರಣ ಸಮಿತಿಯು ತಮಿಳುನಾಡಿಗೆ 4.50 ಟಿಎಂಸಿ ನೀರು ಹರಿಸುವಂತೆ ರಾಜ್ಯಕ್ಕೆ… pic.twitter.com/aKnN6Hh4uW

— M B Patil (@MBPatil) July 29, 2026

Mekedatu Project Back in the Spotlight

Patil, who previously held the Water Resources portfolio, said the Mekedatu concept originated during his earlier tenure in that role. He insisted the project carries benefits for Tamil Nadu as well, but claimed internal politics in the neighboring state has blocked progress.

Today, I spoke to the media near my residence in Sadashivanagar.

At a time when Karnataka is facing severe drought conditions, it is unjustified to direct the State to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. We release water whenever we have more than we need and… pic.twitter.com/6IyssYk1DU

— Dr. G Parameshwara (@DrParameshwara) July 29, 2026

Two senior Karnataka leaders now enter the picture. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, who has also headed the Water Resources department in the past, will reportedly sit with current minister Ramalinga Reddy to work out a response to the committee’s order.

Patil also called on the central government’s oversight committee to closely review video footage and data on current reservoir storage levels before finalizing any release schedule.

The Text of the D.O. Letter dated 28.7.2026, addressed to the Hon'ble Prime Minister of India Thiru. Narendra Modi, from the Hon'ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Thiru. C. Joseph Vijay, regarding Mekedatu Dam.#CMJosephVijay‌ pic.twitter.com/HbdwQAM3nQ

— CMOTamilNadu (@CMOTamilnadu) July 28, 2026