Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay rejected an all-party meeting on the Mekedatu project, saying the state will fight the Cauvery dispute through legal channels while continuing its opposition to Karnataka’s proposed dam. We will not compromise on our rights regarding the Cauvery water issue or the Mekedatu project," the Chief Minister said while addressing the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Friday. Why the Mekedatu project remains contentiousThe Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project has been proposed by Karnataka across the Cauvery river, around 110 km from Bengaluru. With the political debate intensifying in Tamil Nadu and the technical approval process still incomplete, the Mekedatu project remains one of the most closely watched inter-state river disputes in the country. Tamil Nadu seeks long-term water solutionEven as it continues to oppose Karnataka's Mekedatu project, the Tamil Nadu government has simultaneously urged the Centre to fast-track another major water initiative.