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Fresh Bid to End Cauvery Deadlock as CMs Plan Talks
🇮🇳 India /Environment & Climate

Fresh Bid to End Cauvery Deadlock as CMs Plan Talks

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • Karnataka and Tamil Nadu chief ministers plan to meet in early August to discuss the Cauvery water dispute.
  • The meeting aims to address water sharing and Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu reservoir project.
  • Both states face worsening drought conditions, intensifying the urgency of the talks.

A potential meeting between the chief ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in early August offers a fresh avenue to resolve the long-standing Cauvery water dispute. The proposed talks signal a willingness from both state governments to discuss critical issues, including water sharing arrangements and Karnataka's controversial Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.

The chief minister is set to visit Karnataka next month. Right from the beginning, we have been saying that the Government of Tamil Nadu will not permit Karnataka to construct the dam. The chief minister is going regarding this matter in the first week of August.

— R VinothTamil Nadu minister for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, highlighting the state's firm stance against the Mekedatu dam project.

The urgency for dialogue is amplified by worsening drought conditions across the Cauvery basin. Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed the Mekedatu dam, arguing it would harm farmers in the delta region. Tamil Nadu minister for agriculture and farmers’ welfare, R Vinoth, stated that Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay would travel to Karnataka specifically to address this opposition.

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar expressed readiness for dialogue, emphasizing a commitment to resolving inter-state issues amicably. While declining to reveal details of a letter from the Tamil Nadu chief minister, Shivakumar affirmed Karnataka's willingness to engage and collaborate. The meeting, tentatively set for August 3, is expected to be crucial for navigating the water-sharing challenges exacerbated by the drought.

I don’t want to disclose now. I’m very busy next week with my Cabinet expansion and all those things. We are ready to speak with everyone, share things with everyone and work with everyone.

— D K ShivakumarKarnataka Chief Minister, responding to questions about the proposed meeting and expressing willingness for dialogue.

Officials suggest Tamil Nadu initiated the meeting request, with Shivakumar extending the invitation. The discussions are anticipated to center on Cauvery water releases and the Mekedatu project, a point of contention for nearly 15 years. Tamil Nadu's government has been consulting legal experts on the matter, preparing its strategy ahead of the crucial discussions.

Vijay during the meeting should very categorically and c

— Narayanan ThirupathyBJP spokesperson in Tamil Nadu, commenting on the expected stance of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister during the talks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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