The CWMA and Supreme Court had to intervene after Karnataka refused to release water citing shortage in its reservoirs. But as the situation was threatening to go out of hand, the skies opened up and the storage level in the reservoirs went up, putting an end to the imbroglio.
Chennai: Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, C Joseph Vijay and D K Shivakumar, might meet and personally discuss the means to find an amicable solution to the Cauvery water dispute, particularly the differences over the construction of a proposed dam at Mekedatu, on Thursday in the sidelines of the 31st conference of the southern zonal council, to be held at Fisherman’s Cove beach resort at Kovalam near Mamallapuram.
Presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the conference will see Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala and the union territories of Puducherry and lieutenant governors and administrators of Andaman and Nicobar islands and Lakshadeep coming together to deliberate on a plethora of inter-State issues like border disputes, water sharing and narcotics control on Thursday.
The interaction between Vijay and Shivakumar, which was earlier scheduled to happen on August 3 at Bengaluru, was put off as the situation in Karnataka had turned volatile then with Kannada groups and some political leaders putting pressure on the State government to not comply with the Supreme Court order upholding the direction of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu.
The CWMA and Supreme Court had to intervene after Karnataka refused to release water citing shortage in its reservoirs. But as the situation was threatening to go out of hand, the skies opened up and the storage level in the reservoirs went up, putting an end to the imbroglio. The meeting that was cancelled after Shivakumar had then asked Vijay to cancel his visit to Bengaluru could now be held in Kovalam, it is said
The Chief Ministers’ conclave, organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat, Union Ministry of Home Affairs, and hosted by the Tamil Nadu Government, is being convened for the first time after 2022. Amit Shah is the chairperson of the council and Vijay is the vice-chairperson, as the post is rotated among the Chief Ministers.
Two Ministers, Chief Secretaries and the Home Secretaries of all the southern States are also participating in the deliberations. Amit Shah, who is scheduled to arrive in Chennai on Wednesday night, will drive straight to Kovalam. After the conclave he will visit Mamallapuram before leaving for New Delhi.
The Chief Ministers and other dignitaries of the conclave are also likely to hold negotiations on various issues with their counterparts in other States to sort out differences among themselves.
