Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay; Congress MP Rahul Gandhi

New Delhi: In a development that may strain relations between new allies Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) and Congress, the TVK-led Tamil Nadu government on Monday held consultations with Cauvery water and legal experts on the proposed foundation stone laying ceremony announced by neighboring Karnataka for the Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery river.Incidentally, Karnataka is ruled by the Congress and has proposed construction of the Mekedatu dam, giving rise to new political and inter-state sensitivities over the river water-sharing issue.Also read: Tone may soften due to Congress support for Vijay, no Kaveri tension between Karnataka-Tamil Nadu!According to a press note from the Tamil Nadu government, the meeting chaired by the new Chief Minister and actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay was called to uphold “state rights” and protect the welfare of farmers.“Taking into account the details of the Supreme Court judgment and detailed legal consultation, CM Vijay advised that immediate follow-up legal measures should be taken expeditiously,” the statement said.The statement further said that since the proposed Mekedatu Dam is contrary to the Supreme Court judgment, the then Tamil Nadu government had filed petitions in the Supreme Court on November 30, 2018, and June 7, 2022, opposing the project.It was further informed that during the hearing on November 13, 2025, the Supreme Court had not given permission for the Mekedatu Dam and found that it was still in the initial stage. The court also said that only the expert body, the Central Water Commission, can determine whether the project falls within the scope of its earlier decision or not, and accordingly ordered closure of the cases.Also read: DMK, political parties condemn Karnataka government for Mekedatu dam remarksChallenging the decision, the erstwhile Tamil Nadu government filed a review petition on December 11, 2025. The press release said the petition was put up for consideration in chamber in the Supreme Court during the previous government, the judgment was reserved and has now been dismissed.CM Vijay’s meeting came after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the detailed project report (DPR) for Mekedatu will be submitted to the Center soon, adding that the foundation stone ceremony will be planned after obtaining the central government’s approval.Shivakumar told reporters, “The DPR for the Mekedatu project has been prepared, and a project office has been opened. We are identifying alternative land to compensate for the forest area that is going to be submerged. The DPR will be submitted to the Center soon. After getting the Centre’s approval, we will conduct the bhoomi puja for the project.”Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and the Union Territory of Puducherry have long been in dispute over the waters of the Kaveri River, with the issue being particularly sensitive in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and sometimes triggering violent protests.Kerala also now has a Congress government, while Puducherry is led by the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).(With ANI inputs)