India, Nov. 13 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday rejected Tamil Nadu government's plea objecting to Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project on the Cauvery River, holding that the challenge to the preparatory process was "premature" at this stage.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai and justices K Vinod Chandran and NV Anjaria noted that the draft pre-feasibility report (DPR) for the dam project was currently under consideration of the Central Water Commission (CWC), which is subject to the scrutiny and approval of two expert bodies, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

"At this stage, what is being done by the order passed by the CWC is only the preparation of th...