In a recent media interview, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar asserted that the proposed Mekedatu dam project is in Tamil Nadu's best interest. He explained that most of the water stored at the dam would ultimately be used by Tamil Nadu. The discussion took place during a meeting with Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister Vijay, and Shivakumar also emphasized that the Mekedatu project is not primarily for Karnataka, as around 95% of the stored water would benefit Tamil Nadu. Shivakumar clarified that Karnataka could only use a fraction of the water for Bengaluru's drinking needs and that the dam aims to store excess Cauvery water during high inflow periods instead of allowing it to flow into the sea. The Mekedatu project, proposed by Karnataka, is a multi-purpose initiative designed to provide 4.75 TMC of drinking water to Bengaluru and generate 400 MW of power at an estimated cost of Rs 9,000 crore in 2019 prices. Shivakumar also confirmed Karnataka's commitment to releasing the mandated 177.25 TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as directed by the Supreme Court. He stressed that dialogue rather than protracted legal battles is essential for resolving inter-state water disputes, citing the Tungabhadra river dispute as an example of successful negotiation among the states involved.