It’s for authorities to decide on Mekedatu dam construction: Supreme Court

A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and CT Ravikumar asked the petitioner whether he has made any representation to the government on the issue. The petitioner told the bench that he had sent representations to the Centre as well as the states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, but he has not received any response.

“The petitioner has made representation to different authorities with regard to the subject matter of this writ petition as back as in January 2021. It will be open to the petitioner to send reminder to the concerned authorities for considering that representation expeditiously,” the bench said.

“On receipt of such request, the concerned authorities ought to respond to the petitioner about the outcome of the representation, one way or the other, preferably within three months therefrom,” the bench said in its order while disposing of the plea.

Earlier, the Tamil Nadu government had moved the apex court seeking to restrain Karnataka from proceeding with any activity regarding the proposed construction of a reservoir at Mekedatu across the inter-state Cauvery river.

During the hearing on Friday, the bench observed that it is not for the court to decide where a dam should be constructed.

“The authorities will decide this. It is not our job. First, they have to take a decision. If that decision is illegal then we will step in, not otherwise,” the bench said.