Karnataka Moves Toward All-Party Consensus as Cauvery Water Dispute Escalates
Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara announced a proposed all-party summit to address the CWRC mandate for water release to Tamil Nadu. The state government maintains that current reserves are insufficient even for domestic drinking requirements.
State Resilience Amid Scarcity Mandates
In response to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directive issued on July 28, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara confirmed that Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar intends to convene an all-party meeting. The CWRC instructed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu starting July 29 for a 15-day period, totaling approximately 4 TMC of water. Parameshwara characterized the mandate as difficult to justify given the state's current inability to meet its own drinking water demands.
Defending Territorial Interests and Legal Strategy
The administration highlighted a history of exceeding water allocations when reserves allow, but Parameshwara noted that current shortages dictate a more cautious approach. To solidify the state's legal and political stance, the Chief Minister held consultations in New Delhi with internal legal experts, including Senior Advocate Mohan Katarki and Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy. The government is evaluating its next steps following these discussions with Members of Parliament and legal counsel.
- Infrastructure Disputes: The proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir near Kanakapura remains a point of contention. Karnataka justifies the multi-purpose project for power and drinking water, asserting it resides within its own territory.
- Inter-State Diplomacy: Despite BJP criticism regarding a potential meeting between Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay on August 3, Parameshwara defended bilateral dialogue as a standard federal practice.
- Public Sentiment: Protests in Mandya and surrounding districts continue as farmers voice concerns that any released water will jeopardize local agricultural and domestic needs.
Response to Political and Legal Pressures
Addressing the opposition's claims that the government failed to effectively argue its case before the CWRC, the Deputy CM emphasized that the judiciary remains the ultimate arbiter. In regards to Tamil Nadu's appeals to the Prime Minister against the Mekedatu project, Parameshwara stated that the Prime Minister is not above the court, noting that judicial inquiries have previously questioned obstructions to projects within Karnataka's sovereign territory that do not impact the allocated water quantum for downstream states.
Source: The Hindu — Home
