The Central Water Commission (CWC) has returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project, which was modified on April 21, 2026, asking the State to submit a revised DPR in compliance with Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) Award and certain observations made by it. The DPR for the project had been submitted to the CWC for the first time by Karnataka in January 2019. Further, proposed consumptive use has also been increased to 6.95 tmcft from earlier 4.75 tmcft,” observed the letter by the CWC. The CWC has also observed that the basis for determining the Live Storage Capacity of 59.46 tcmft for the proposed Mekedatu reservoir does not seem to be appropriate. The Supreme Court in its order on November 13 refused to entertain Tamil Nadu’s application against Mekedatu project and termed Tamil Nadu’s objection as premature.