Chennai/Bengaluru: The Cauvery water dispute has intensified with Tamil Nadu deciding to approach the Supreme Court for its share of river water, while Karnataka has deferred the proposed meeting between the Chief Ministers of the two states, citing the prevailing situation.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss welcomed the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to seek judicial intervention, saying it was the right step after proposed bilateral talks with Karnataka failed to materialise. He urged the state to move the Supreme Court immediately and seek directions to Karnataka to release Cauvery water in accordance with the orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
The Tamil Nadu government had earlier announced that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay would visit Bengaluru for talks with Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Cauvery water sharing and the proposed Mekedatu dam. However, the meeting was postponed after protests intensified in both states. Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar has said the state is likely to file its petition after August 5.
Anbumani also urged the government to avoid direct negotiations with Karnataka on both the Cauvery dispute and the Mekedatu project, insisting that Tamil Nadu’s interests could be protected only through legal and institutional mechanisms. He also called for a stay on the preparation of the Mekedatu Detailed Project Report.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s proposed visit would be rescheduled when the atmosphere becomes peaceful and conducive for dialogue.
He said Karnataka would first consult former Chief Ministers, political leaders and legal experts at the all-party meeting before taking any further decision on releasing Cauvery water. Shivakumar maintained that Karnataka would honour court orders while safeguarding its own rights, adding that although Tamil Nadu had sought 9,000 cusecs of water, the CWMA had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs per day.
