Mekedatu project: What's happening and why people are talking about it
The Supreme Court just removed a key legal roadblock for now, allowing the planning process to continue with the Mekedatu reservoir project, brushing off Tamil Nadu's objections for now.
The court called Tamil Nadu's concerns "premature" since the project is still in its planning stage.
If built, the dam would help supply drinking water to Bengaluru and generate hydropower—but it's also sparked a lot of debate between states.
Why is everyone debating this?
Tamil Nadu worries that the new dam could cut into its share of Cauvery River water, which is crucial for farming and daily needs.
On top of that, environmentalists warn the project could damage over 53 sq km of protected wildlife habitat inside Cauvery Sanctuary—a place already dealing with human-wildlife conflicts.
Even though Karnataka can keep working on its plans for now, they'll need to clear some tough environmental checks before anything gets built.