Mekedatu: Balancing the Flow for Karnataka’s Future

The Karnataka government has proposed the construction of a balancing reservoir across the Cauvery River, located about two kilometres downstream of its confluence with the Arkavathi River. The planned reservoir will have a storage capacity of 67.17 TMC ft.

The state government has informed the Centre that the Mekedatu project will submerge approximately 5,173 hectares of land. In its proposal for environmental clearance, Karnataka has stated that no suitable gorge site for water storage is available within the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, making the proposed location the most viable option. The project is also expected to support wildlife by meeting drinking water requirements during lean seasons and to harness the river’s natural gradient for hydropower generation.

Furthermore, the project is designed to ensure compliance with Karnataka’s obligation to release 177.25 TMC of water annually to Tamil Nadu, as mandated by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award, which includes 10 TMC earmarked for environmental flows. Once implemented, the project is expected to substantially enhance water regulation and power generation capabilities.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.