A key land count has sharpened debate on Karnataka’s Mekedatu reservoir. Officials in Mandya say, for this project, 1,079 hectares from the district will be taken, mainly forest parcels in Malavalli. The district has set aside 2,204 hectares as replacement land for compensatory planting under forest rules. That exchange signals early delivery planning, even as big approvals are still pending. The project sits on the Cauvery, upstream of the inter‑state border. It is meant to store water and steady releases.
After a Supreme Court order last week, Karnataka moved to update its plan and resubmit a detailed project report to New Delhi. State leaders say the earlier report used 2018 to 2019 rates and needs new costings and fresh field data.
“Not a new DPR. The existing one will be modified,” D. K. Shivakumar said, adding that some objections would be addressed before submission.
Technical gates remain, including appraisal by the Central Water Commission and environmental and forest approvals by the Union environment ministry. The court called Tamil Nadu’s challenge premature, which clears a procedural snag but not the core review.
Environmental and financial risks inside a sanctuary
The planned reservoir footprint lies inside the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary, a known elephant route and river habitat. India’s tiger census report warned that a dam here “could pose a major threat for the Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary,” the report said.
That signal will weigh on wildlife approvals and any diversion of protected forest. Hydrology, fish passages, and corridor design are likely to face close tests in Delhi. Tamil Nadu continues to oppose the plan in basin forums, citing downstream flow control risks. Karnataka counters that a balancing reservoir can stabilise releases while supplying Bengaluru.
Cost is the other pivot. Karnataka had earlier pegged the project at ₹9,000 crore (C$1.5 billion) at 2019 rates, and now plans to revise for 2025 to 2026 prices. A higher estimate would shape the contract path, likely favouring engineering, procurement, and construction with tight environmental conditions.
Power output is planned at about 400 megawatts, which can add cash flow once online, but only after river and forest clearances. Land handling is complex. The Mandya plan to swap 2,204 hectares for compensatory planting suggests early budgeting for land and planting, along with resettlement where required. Timelines hinge on central appraisals, seasonal field surveys, and inter‑state water talks. Investors and agencies will watch whether the revised report aligns storage goals with habitat safeguards.