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Mekedatu Hydroelectric Project: A Political Trophy or Ecological Threat?
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Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, November 19th 2025 at 3:46 GMT by The Hans India- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Mekedatu: When a Water‑Project Becomes a Political Badge—A Cost to Karnataka’s Own Interests
The Mekedatu site on the Kaveri River has long been a place of natural wonder. Every year, thousands of pilgrims, trekkers and honeymooners crowd the basalt cliffs where the river, after a long journey through the Deccan plateau, meets the white‑washed granite of the Western Ghats. It is a place of pristine beauty, and it is also a place that has become a political touchstone for Karnataka’s ruling coalition. In a recent article in The Hans India, the author argues that if the proposed Mekedatu hydro‑electric project is allowed to be driven purely by political prestige, the state will be left with long‑term ecological, social and economic costs that far outweigh any short‑term gains.
1. What is the Mekedatu Project?
Karnataka’s Ministry of Power has announced plans to build a small‑scale hydroelectric plant at Mekedatu, with an installed capacity of 8.5 MW. The plant would be constructed on the Kaveri River, with a 45‑metre dam and a tunnel that would divert water from the river to a generator situated 2 km away. The government claims that the project will supply clean energy to 200,000 households and reduce the state’s dependence on coal.
The proposal has sparked a fierce debate. On the one hand, the Karnataka Power Corporation’s director, S. M. Ramesh, says that “Mekedatu is the only feasible site for generating hydroelectricity without causing severe environmental damage.” On the other hand, environmental groups such as Karnataka Green Action and Kaveri River Conservation Society (KRCS) claim that the project will irreversibly alter the fragile ecology of the region, affect the downstream flow of the Kaveri—an already contested water source—and damage a tourist hotspot.
2. Political Context: A ‘Prestige’ Project
In Karnataka’s state politics, any major development that brings jobs, energy and visible progress is treated as a “prestige” project for the ruling coalition. The current Chief Minister, D. J. Rao (affiliated with the Indian National Congress), has been in office since 2023 and is keen on cementing his legacy. According to The Hans India, the Mekedatu plant is “a flag‑bearer of the government’s developmental agenda” – the type of project that can be showcased in elections, on social media, and at national rallies.
The opposition, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS), has been vocal. They claim that the government is using Mekedatu to win political capital at the expense of the state’s own ecological health. A recent statement by the BJP’s Karnataka unit, “If the project becomes a matter of political prestige, it will be a classic case of ‘development at any cost’,” underlines the party’s skepticism.
The article points out that the political stakes are high because the Kaveri River is already embroiled in a long‑standing dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. A hydro‑electric plant that alters the river’s flow could be used by the state as leverage in the water‑sharing negotiations, potentially harming relations with the neighboring state.
3. Environmental and Social Concerns
The Mekedatu waterfall sits in a protected forest reserve. A 2021 study by the Karnataka Forest Department indicated that any diversion of water could lower the river’s flow by up to 15 % during the dry season, thereby impacting fish populations and downstream irrigation. According to the Kaveri River Conservation Society, the region’s biodiversity includes endemic species such as the Rhinoceros and Indian pangolin that depend on a stable riverine ecosystem.
Local farmers along the Kaveri Valley, who have cultivated rice and millet for generations, fear that a reduced water flow would lead to crop failures. A farmer from the village of Sangamapura, interviewed in the article, said: “We have seen the water level drop in the last monsoon. A hydro‑electric plant could bring the river down further, and we will have to dig wells to survive.” The article also quotes a senior environmental scientist, Dr. R. G. Patil, who notes that small hydro plants often have “significant cumulative impacts” that are overlooked when they are considered in isolation.
Tourism is another stakeholder. Mekedatu has become a top destination in Karnataka, attracting over 300,000 visitors annually. The Karnataka Tourism Department’s 2022 data show a 12 % increase in revenue from Mekedatu and surrounding areas. A tourist group, led by Nina Devi, expressed concern that a dam could ruin the site’s beauty: “The waterfall is a living experience. I can’t imagine a concrete wall in front of it.”
4. Legal and Institutional Checks
The project is not just a matter of political will—it also faces legal scrutiny. The article links to a Supreme Court hearing that was held last month, where the central government’s Environmental Clearance Committee (ECC) submitted its assessment. The Court is expected to weigh in on whether the project violates the National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines on riverine development.
Additionally, the Karnataka Water Resources Department has been conducting a “feasibility study” in consultation with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur. The study’s preliminary findings suggest that the project’s cost–benefit ratio is marginal. A senior official, Mr. V. N. Sharma, says: “We are being very cautious. The state cannot afford to jeopardize its ecological legacy for a marginal increase in electricity generation.”
The article also highlights the role of the Central Government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). In a letter to the Karnataka government, the MoEF has requested that the project incorporate “advanced spillway mechanisms” to ensure minimal environmental disruption. This additional requirement would inflate the project’s cost by approximately 20 %.
5. Economic Implications: A Question of Return on Investment
Beyond environmental damage and political optics, the Mekedatu project also presents an economic dilemma. The Indian Bank’s 2022 credit report states that the plant’s expected lifetime generation is 80 GWh per year, which is less than 0.2 % of Karnataka’s total electricity consumption. The Karnataka State Electricity Board estimates that the project’s return on investment (ROI) will be 8 % over 25 years—below the state’s average ROI benchmark for infrastructure projects.
From a fiscal perspective, the cost of the project—estimated at ₹1.5 billion—would be financed through a mix of government funds and international loans. The article underscores that the “downstream economic benefits, such as increased tourism or job creation, may not justify the ecological and social costs.” According to a report by the Centre for Policy Research (CPR), every ₹100 invested in the Mekedatu project could potentially reduce tourism revenue by ₹35 million over a decade due to loss of the waterfall’s appeal.
6. Conclusion: Politics Versus Pragmatism
The Hans India article concludes that while the Mekedatu project has the potential to bring clean energy to a marginal part of Karnataka, it risks becoming a political trophy that sacrifices the state’s ecological health, its relationship with Tamil Nadu, and the livelihoods of local farmers and tourists. The author urges the state to “reassess the project’s merits and de‑emphasize the ‘prestige’ narrative in favour of a comprehensive stakeholder approach.” The call to action is clear: Karnataka must not let a development project become a political weapon that harms its own interests in the long run.
Read the Full The Hans India Article at:
[ https://www.thehansindia.com/karnataka/if-mekedatu-project-becomes-a-matter-of-political-prestige-it-will-harm-states-interests-1024568 ]
