Seeking Resolution: Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar calls for political collaboration to find a solution to the longstanding issue involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu
Bengaluru, August 20, 2023: In a bid to address the long-standing water dispute related to the Cauvery River (also known as Kaveri), the Karnataka state government has announced an all-party meeting scheduled for August 23. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar informed the media about this initiative on Sunday.
The meeting aims to bring together various political parties along with senior Parliament members to deliberate and potentially find a solution to the contentious issue involving Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery River has been a source of disputes and conflicts between the two states for decades.
We have called this all-party meeting on water disputes related to Cauvery; it is scheduled for Wednesday, August 23rd. I have also extended invitations to senior Parliament members to participate in the meeting. Our goal is to seek a resolution to this matter,” stated Deputy CM DK Shivakumar during his press briefing.
The recent decision by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), instructing Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu over the next 15 days, has raised concerns due to the ongoing water scarcity faced by Karnataka.
We are aware of the dire water crisis the state is currently undergoing. Despite this, we have complied with the Supreme Court’s directive and released water from the Cauvery in the past few days. However, we appeal to the authority to reconsider this decision, as it could directly impact the availability of drinking water here in Karnataka,” emphasized Deputy CM Shivakumar.
Former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, weighing in on the matter, criticized the Congress government for not adequately representing the plight of farmers from the Cauvery river basin to the CWMA.
The Congress government has betrayed our farmers, particularly those in the Cauvery river basin. They failed to advocate for our case before the CWMA. It is now their responsibility to stand up for our farmers in the Supreme Court and present our case based on its merits. Surrendering water to Tamil Nadu without a strong fight is a betrayal to our farmers,” commented former CM Bommai.
The Cauvery River originates in Karnataka and traverses through Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry before eventually flowing into the Bay of Bengal. The river’s basin covers a significant area across these states, making the dispute over water sharing a complex and longstanding issue.
As the all-party meeting approaches, stakeholders are hopeful that constructive dialogues will pave the way for a fair resolution to the Cauvery water dispute.
