Cauvery Row: TN CM Vijay Keen on Talks With Karnataka Despite Farmer Opposition

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is keen to engage neighbouring Karnataka in bilateral talks to resolve the long-standing Cauvery river water-sharing dispute, despite strong opposition from farmers who have urged the state government to abandon the proposed dialogue.

The move comes amid a severe water shortage in Tamil Nadu, particularly in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, threatening prospects for the short-term Kuruvai paddy crop. The customary opening of the Mettur dam on June 12 was also postponed due to inadequate water storage.

Farmer representatives who attended a consultative meeting with Agriculture Minister R Vinoth on Monday demanded that the government explore legal options against Karnataka instead of pursuing diplomatic negotiations. The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers' Association argued that direct talks could bypass the established legal framework and run contrary to the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict.

The opposition DMK has also strongly criticised the proposed talks and urged the government to seek a dedicated tribunal to settle the Cauvery dispute and secure Tamil Nadu's rightful share of the river water.

Under the Supreme Court's landmark 2018 judgment, the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee were established as statutory mechanisms to regulate and implement water-sharing between the states.

Between June 1 and July 22, Tamil Nadu received just 3.5 TMC ft of water, against the 31 TMC ft it was entitled to under the court-mandated schedule.

The proposed engagement comes amid renewed controversy over Karnataka's Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. The Centre told the Rajya Sabha on Monday that Karnataka does not require the consent of Tamil Nadu or other riparian states to construct structures across the Cauvery. However, the project's 2019 DPR was returned for revision to ensure compliance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Award and Central Water Commission guidelines.