A proposed meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Joseph Vijay has opened a new political channel to address the long-standing Cauvery dispute, with both governments signaling their willingness to discuss water sharing and the proposed Mekkedatu reservoir to balance water in Karnataka amid worsening drought conditions across the basin.
Tamil Nadu Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister R Vinoth said on Friday that Vijay would travel to Karnataka in the first week of August to raise the Mekedatu issue, reiterating the state’s opposition to the project.
“The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Karnataka next month. From the beginning, we have said that the Tamil Nadu government will not allow Karnataka to build the dam. The Prime Minister will consider this issue in the first week of August,” Vinoth said.
He said Vijay would also seek Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery water after Karnataka informed the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) that it could not release additional water for June and July due to lack of rainfall.
“The Prime Minister will demand Tamil Nadu’s share of water in order to establish our rights,” Vinoth said.
Reacting to reports of the proposed meeting, Shivakumar said Karnataka is ready to resolve issues between states through dialogue and is ready to engage with Tamil Nadu.
Speaking after attending a CEO breakfast meeting ahead of the Bengaluru Tech Summit, he refused to divulge details of a letter sent by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, saying the state government was busy with cabinet expansion and other official works.
“I don’t want to reveal now. I am very busy next week expanding my government and all these things. We are ready to talk to everyone, share things with everyone and work with everyone,” Shivakumar said.
According to officials familiar with the matter, Tamil Nadu sought the meeting, and Shivakumar subsequently invited Vijay for talks in Bengaluru, with August 3 as the tentative date. There is no confirmation yet on whether Vijay has accepted the invitation.
Discussions are expected to focus on Cauvery water releases and Karnataka’s proposal to build a Mekedatu balancing reservoir in Shivakumar’s Kanakapura Assembly constituency. Tamil Nadu has opposed the project for nearly 15 years, arguing that it would adversely affect farmers, especially in the Cauvery delta.
Earlier this week, Vijay chaired a consultation with legal experts who have represented the Tamil Nadu government in the Mekedatu litigation for the past 15 years. Minister of State for Natural Resources and Law R Nirmal Kumar said the government will decide its next course of action after studying the recommendations made during the meeting.
Political parties in Tamil Nadu have also hardened their stance ahead of the proposed talks.
Narayanan Thirupathi, BJP spokesperson, said: “Vijay during the meeting should state very categorically and clearly that the Mukhedatu Dam cannot be built without Tamil Nadu’s approval. I think since the Congress is also in the Tamil Nadu government, he should say it very clearly that they cannot play games.”
On July 23, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami urged the Tamil Nadu government to put pressure on Karnataka to release the state’s allocated share of Cauvery water for June and July. Karnataka has released 2.91 trillion cubic feet against 9.19 trillion cubic feet stipulated in the Supreme Court ruling, he said.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution on July 19 opposing Karnataka’s plan to build the Mekedatu reservoir. Vijay led the decision, with opposition parties, including the AIADMK and opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin, supporting it. The Tamil Nadu Congress also supported the government’s stand despite the Congress being in power in Karnataka.
The proposed meeting comes days after Karnataka informed the CWMA that it could not release additional water from Cauvery to Tamil Nadu under the monthly schedule imposed by the Supreme Court due to lack of rainfall and drought-like conditions.
Karnataka informed the authority that storage in the four Cauvery Basin reservoirs stood at 48.979 tmcft against the 30-year average of 81.528 tmcft. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu said it received 3.442 TCF between June 1 and July 19 against its scheduled allocation of 28.337 TCF, leaving 24.896 TCF yet to be released.
Karnataka told the authority that below-normal rainfall over the past five weeks in Kodagu, Hassan, Mysuru, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara and adjoining districts has led to a sharp decline in inflows into reservoirs. The authority said that the Cauvery Basin is entering a year of distress and advised the basin countries to prioritize drinking water over irrigation while continuing to follow the water-sharing framework stipulated under the Cauvery Award for years of shortfall in flows.
(With inputs from Arun Dev in Bengaluru)
