Karnataka reservoirs dip as drought spurs Cauvery water‑sharing talks

Water storage across Karnataka's major reservoirs showed mixed trends on Friday. The Almatti Dam on the Krishna River is near full capacity after heavy inflows, while reservoirs in the Cauvery basin such as Kabini and Krishnarajasagar (KRS) remain well below the levels recorded a year earlier. The state is experiencing a drought‑like situation due to a delayed monsoon, raising concerns over agricultural water supply and drinking water availability.

In response, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar is scheduled to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on August 3 in Bengaluru to discuss the contentious Cauvery water‑sharing arrangement. The talks will also address Karnataka's proposal for the Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and the broader impact of low reservoir levels on farmers in both states.