Southern Indian states remain divided over water disputes

During a Southern Zonal Council meeting, chief ministers and administrators from southern Indian states and Union Territories expressed persistent disagreements over long-standing water disputes. Despite calls from Union Home Minister Amit Shah for improved cooperation between state governments, leaders continued to press for specific regional demands.

Key conflicts highlighted include Kerala’s long-standing demand for the demolition of the 120-year-old Mullaiperiyar dam, which provides water to Tamil Nadu. Additionally, Karnataka maintained its stance regarding the construction of a new dam at Mekedatu to address sharing issues of the Cauvery River with Tamil Nadu.

While Amit Shah noted that the Council has resolved approximately 80% of interstate disputes since 2014, the recent proceedings suggest ongoing difficulty in reaching consensus on these sensitive, historical issues.