Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart C. Joseph Vijay to postpone his visit to the State in view of the recent order by Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the river’s water regulation and the prevailing situation.
His appeal came amid widespread protests across Karnataka, particularly in Mandya, where demonstrators tore posters of Vijay’s recently released film Jana Nayagan and forced theatres at some places to halt its screening.
On Thursday (July 30, 2026), CWMA rejected Karnataka’s appeal against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order which directed it to release water at the rate of 3,500 cusecs daily to Tamil Nadu from July 29 for the next 15 days. CWMA told Karnataka to comply with the order.
Mr. Shivakumar said the State government had initially prepared to host the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister for talks but had decided to seek a postponement to ensure the meeting takes place in a peaceful atmosphere after consultations with his Cabinet colleagues and legal team.
Citing the order, Mr. Shivakumar said, “I feel that the atmosphere is not right at this point of time. I am appealing to him (Mr. Vijay) to postpone the visit for some time because we should have a very cordial atmosphere. I want both States to benefit from it,” he said.
“I do not want any hard feelings between the two of us… It all depends upon the rain god,” he said.
Chairing a meeting to review the Cauvery water situation in the State, Mr. Shivakumar said, “It is my duty to protect the interests of the State. As soon as the order came, we appealed against it. Deputy CM G. Parameshwara and I even met with the MPs and Ministers in Delhi,” he said.
“Tamil Nadu had requested 9.94 tmcft of water to be released as part of the distress formula. However, the CWRC ordered us to give half that quantum at 4.5 tmcft. With the CWMA upholding that order, I have now invited all Karnataka leaders for an all-party meeting to be held on August 2 (Sunday),” the Chief Minister added.
Good rainfall
The Chief Minister noted that Karnataka had received good rainfall over the last three years, which had helped it meet its water-sharing obligations comfortably.
“Over the last three years, we have been fortunate to receive very good rainfall. In fact, last year witnessed exceptionally heavy rains of a historic scale. We performed the Cauvery Puja at the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) dam along with our senior leaders, including Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. I also participated in the Cauvery aarti,” Mr. Shivakumar said.
He said the good rainfall had benefited both people and agriculture, and far more water had flowed to Tamil Nadu than required. “People were happy, the rainfall was good, and agriculture also benefited. Instead of releasing around 177 tmcft of water, nearly 400 tmcft flowed to Tamil Nadu. We could not hold back that water; it had to be released because of the prevailing circumstances. Tamil Nadu was also satisfied, and a significant quantity of water even flowed into the sea,” he said.
Batting for Mekedatu reservoir
Meanwhile, making a strong pitch for Karnataka’s long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery in Kanakapura, his home town, Mr. Shivakumar asserted that the project would actually benefit Tamil Nadu more than Karnataka. “The only direct benefit Karnataka will derive is the generation of about 400 MW of hydropower,” he said.
The Centre has returned the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir-cum-Drinking Water Project, seeking a revised DPR in compliance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and extant Central Water Commission guidelines.
The Chief Minister said the proposed 66 tmcft reservoir was only a balancing reservoir and could not be used to expand irrigation in Karnataka. “At no point can the water stored in the 66 tmcft balancing reservoir be utilised for any new irrigation project in Karnataka. It is only a balancing reservoir. We have no authority to use that water for irrigation,” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
Karnataka CM asks his Tamil Nadu counterpart Vijay to defer his visit to Bengaluru
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Joseph Vijay to postpone his visit to the State in view of the recent order by Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) regarding the river’s water regulation and the prevailing situation.
| Video Credit:
The Hindu
Published – July 31, 2026 03:43 pm IST
