Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to meet Karnataka CM Shivakumar over Cauvery water

Cauvery water dispute Mekedatu dam Joseph Vijay D K Shivakumar Tamil Nadu Karnataka talks

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has confirmed a visit to Bengaluru on August 3 to hold bilateral talks with Karnataka Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar. The meeting aims to address the long‑standing Cauvery river water‑sharing dispute and the contested Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, which Tamil Nadu says would further reduce water supplies to its delta farms.

Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth reiterated the state's position that it will not allow the Mekedatu dam to be built and that the talks are intended to secure the release of Cauvery water for the upcoming kuruvai cropping season. Farmers in the delta have warned of crop losses exceeding ₹1,125 crore due to inadequate water releases from Karnataka.

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin and other opposition leaders have publicly urged Vijay to avoid bilateral talks, arguing that such negotiations could weaken the state’s legal standing after the Supreme Court’s verdict and serve Karnataka’s interests. They called for an all‑party consultation before any engagement with Karnataka.

The talks will be the first CM‑level discussions on the dispute in 14 years, the previous meeting in 2012 ending without water releases. The Cauvery Water Management Authority is slated to decide on the pro‑rata water share later in July, adding procedural weight to the upcoming negotiations.