Shivakumar Leads All-Party Talks as Karnataka Faces Pressure Over Cauvery Water Release

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar will chair an all-party meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday to develop a unified legal and political strategy on the ongoing Cauvery water-sharing dispute with Tamil Nadu. The meeting has been convened following the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily for 15 days to Tamil Nadu.

The discussions are expected to bring together leaders from various political parties, Union ministers from the Cauvery basin region, Members of Parliament, and senior political representatives to determine Karnataka’s approach to the latest developments in the long-running inter-state water dispute.

The meeting comes amid widespread protests across Karnataka, with opposition parties, farmer organisations, and pro-Kannada groups strongly opposing the CWRC order. Several groups have demanded that the state resist the water release directive, citing concerns over Karnataka’s own water requirements and reservoir levels.

Shivakumar had earlier postponed his proposed meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Vijay Joseph, which was scheduled for August 3, stating that discussions could take place later in a more conducive and cordial environment. The postponement has added to the ongoing political debate over finding a balance between negotiations and safeguarding the state’s interests.

The Karnataka government has maintained that protecting the state’s water resources remains its priority while asserting that it will explore all available legal and constitutional measures in response to the CWRC directive.

The all-party meeting is expected to play a key role in shaping Karnataka’s future course of action, as both states continue to navigate the complex process of inter-state water negotiations and legal challenges surrounding the Cauvery river.