Manickam Tagore, a Congress MP from Tamil Nadu, has publicly opposed the Karnataka government's Mekedatu reservoir project, describing it as a 'direct assault' on the riparian rights of Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka government, led by Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, plans to expedite the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Mekedatu project, which aims to address drinking water and power generation needs. However, this initiative has faced fierce backlash from Tamil Nadu, where the Cauvery River is vital for agriculture, particularly in delta districts. Tagore highlighted that the Supreme Court and the Cauvery Water Management Authority have previously ruled that no new dams can be built on the river without Tamil Nadu's approval. He urged the central government to reject Karnataka's proposal, asserting that Tamil Nadu's farmers should not suffer due to political maneuvering. The controversy has also drawn criticism from other Tamil political parties, including the DMK and AIADMK, who accuse Shivakumar of undermining Tamil Nadu's rights over the Cauvery River. The ongoing tensions reflect a long history of legal disputes and political protests between the two states over water-sharing agreements.