Cauvery Row Deepens as TN Farmers Oppose CM Vijay's Karnataka Visit

The Centre has clarified that no proposal from the Tamil Nadu government seeking financial assistance for the Cauvery–Vaigai–Gundar River Link Project is currently under consideration by the Ministry of Jal Shakti, even as the Cauvery water dispute remains a flashpoint ahead of the proposed meeting between the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the project remains one of the river-linking schemes identified under the National Perspective Plan, with its Detailed Project Report (DPR) completed by the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) in 2020.

According to the DPR, the project envisages diverting 2,252 million cubic metres (MCM) of water from the Kattalai Barrage on the Cauvery, in exchange for surplus water proposed under the Godavari–Cauvery Link Project. The scheme is expected to benefit the drought-prone districts of Karur, Tiruchirappalli, Pudukkottai, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar and Thoothukudi, while supplying 218 MCM of water for domestic and industrial use. However, the Central Ground Water Board has not carried out a project-specific study on groundwater recharge in Theni, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram.

Meanwhile, the proposed August 3 meeting between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has drawn opposition from the Cauvery Farmers' Association. General Secretary P.R. Pandian urged Shivakumar to visit the Cauvery delta districts to witness the damage to Kuruvai paddy crops if Vijay proceeds with his Karnataka visit.

The association also reiterated its opposition to the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, arguing it would adversely affect Tamil Nadu's share of Cauvery waters. Pandian said the state's water rights, secured through years of legal battles, should not be compromised through bilateral political negotiations.