Karnataka CM Appeals To Tamil Nadu CM To Reschedule His Visit To Karnataka

BENGALURU: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Friday appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Joseph Vijay to defer his visit to the State for a meeting with him scheduled for August 3 to discuss on sharing River Cauvery water, considering the situation not favourable enough in Karnataka right now owing to protests from farmers/pro-Kannada organisations among others over direction from Cauvery Water Management Authority to release 3,500 cusecs to Tamil Nadu.

He, however, stated the date for the meeting would be fixed after the outcome of all-party meeting on Sunday convened to discuss the future course of action to be taken by Karnataka over Cauvery Water Management Authority upholding the direction of Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15-days starting from July 29. Farmers in particular are up in arms against the direction to release water since Karnataka's Cauvery basin reservoirs have low water storage owing to deficit rainfall this season and water meant for drinking purposes only.

Regarding the visit of Joseph Vjay to Karnataka, at a press conference in Bengaluru, Shivakumar recalled “I expressed desire to meet the previous Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin for a meeting (over Cauvery dispute) but the meeting could not be materialised then. Later Assembly elections came in the way and the Government changed in Tamil Nadu bringing Joseph Vjay to power who has expressed his willingness for a meeting.”

Continuing, he said, Vijay communicated to officials in Karnataka to arrive in the State with a team of about 6 Ministers but the situation in Karnataka right now is not favourable for the visit to Tamil Nadu.

“Personally, I would not like someone shouting slogans against Vijay, staging protests which would hurt the guest visiting the State,” said the Karnataka CM and stated “If a solution is found by holding cordial to an issue. Let it.” The Chief Minister said “The issue cannot be decided emotionally.”

Referring to the proposed balancing reservoir at Mekedatu in Bengaluru South district, Shivakumar reiterated the project will benefit Tamil Nadu more then Karnataka. Karnataka will be able to produce 400 megawatt of power using water from the balancing reservoir and Karnataka cannot use 66 tmc of water available from the Mekedatu balancing reservoir for its agricultural purposes.

To Karnataka, he said, Supreme Court has directed to release 177.25 tmc of water to Tamil Nadu and he stated “Karnataka will abide by it.”