Mekedatu project: Karnataka govt decided to submit revised DPR, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Wednesday clarified that the state government decided to submit a revised Detailed Project Report to the Centre for the Mekedatu project across the Cauvery river, following the Supreme Court’s order rejecting Tamil Nadu’s plea against it.
Shivakumar, who also holds the Water Resources portfolio, had said on Tuesday that a "fresh" DPR would be sent to the central authorities.
"Not a new DPR. The existing one will be modified. Some objections were raised, and those need to be addressed before submission. Also, the project cost has changed compared to earlier. We will revise it accordingly. The rest we will leave to the central government," Shivakumar told reporters here.
His office later issued a clarification stating that the Karnataka government has decided to submit a revised DPR after updating the cost as per the current Schedule of Rates (2025-26 price level).
The previous DPR was prepared using the 2018-19 Schedule of Rates and submitted to the Central Water Commission (CWC) on January 18, 2019.
It had not been taken up for appraisal due to administrative and legal constraints. The way is now clear following the Supreme Court order dated November 13, 2025, the statement said.
On November 13, the Supreme Court rejected a plea by the Tamil Nadu government challenging Karnataka’s construction of the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir Project, calling the petition "premature".
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justices K Vinod Chandran and N V Anjaria said the plan would be approved only after considering Tamil Nadu’s objections and the views of expert bodies—the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
Mekedatu is a proposed multi-purpose (drinking water and power) project involving the construction of a balancing reservoir near Kanakapura in Ramanagara district (now renamed Bengaluru South district).
Tamil Nadu has opposed the project, expressing fears that it would adversely affect the state.
According to officials, the project aims to provide 4.75 tmcft of drinking water to Bengaluru and neighbouring areas and can generate 400 MW of power once completed.
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Bengaluru: Four arrested for housebreaking, threats, extortion; fake PSI among accused
Bengaluru: Vidyaranyapura police have arrested four persons, including a man posing as a Police Sub-Inspector (PSI), for allegedly breaking into a house, threatening the occupants, and extorting money while wearing police uniforms.
The arrested accused have been identified as Mallikarjuna, Pramod, Vinay, and Hrithik.
Police said the accused had hatched a plan to pose as police personnel, conduct fake raids, and extort money from residents by intimidation.
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According to the police, Mallikarjuna had failed the PSI examination twice and later falsely projected himself as a PSI. He allegedly conducted photo shoots in his hometown, Siraguppa, wearing a police uniform, baton, cap, and shoes, claiming to be serving as a PSI in Bengaluru.
On December 7, the four accused allegedly went to the house of Naveen in the Vidyaranyapura limits, threatened him with a stick and an iron rod, and claimed they had information that he was selling ganja. Under the pretext of searching, they allegedly extorted ₹87,000 through bank transfer, ₹53,000 in cash kept in the house, and ₹2,000 from his wallet.
Following Naveen’s complaint, Vidyaranyapura police registered a case and launched an operation, leading to the arrest of all four accused. Police have seized ₹45,000 in cash and the car used to commit the crime.
Further investigation is underway.
