Cauvery row heats up as DK Shivakumar postpones meeting with Tamil Nadu CM Vijay
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday announced the postponement of his proposed meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, saying the atmosphere
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday announced the postponement of his proposed meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, saying the atmosphere was not conducive following the latest developments in the Cauvery water dispute. The decision came a day after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's direction asking Karnataka to ensure a daily flow of 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days. Read Full Story Addressing the press in Bengaluru, Shivakumar said the Karnataka government would first consult legal experts and take opposition parties into confidence before deciding its next course of action. "We have been requesting the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu that we should meet at a cordial time. Let these court issues be over. We have to respect the law of this country. We will have a meeting in a more cordial atmosphere," he said. 'NEED CONSENSUS BEFORE TAKING DECISION' Shivakumar said the Karnataka government would challenge the order but stressed that any decision would be taken only after wider consultations.
"The stand of the Karnataka government is that I have to take my opposition party leaders into confidence. I have to seek legal advice, and then I will take a call after discussing it with them," he said. He noted that the CWMA had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water and reiterated that safeguarding drinking water remained the state's foremost priority. "As far as drinking water is concerned, there will be no problem in the coming year. We require around 40 TMC of water, including nearly 36 TMC for drinking purposes and another 4 TMC for evaporation and other needs," he said. Shivakumar added that Karnataka's legal team and officials had made every effort to present the state's case before the Authority. MEETING DEFERRED AFTER TAMIL NADU REQUEST The Karnataka Chief Minister said the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Office had approached Karnataka seeking a meeting to discuss various issues, and August 3 had initially been fixed after the request was accepted.
However, he said the latest order on the Cauvery dispute had changed the situation. "After today's order, I feel the atmosphere is not right. I have requested the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to defer the visit for some time so that we can meet in a cool, calm and cordial atmosphere in the best interest of both states," Shivakumar said. He maintained that Karnataka respected the Supreme Court's directions on the Cauvery issue. He also does not intend to violate any legal order reiterating that the proposed Mekedatu reservoir project would benefit both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. APPEAL FOR PEACE AMID HEIGHTENED TENSIONS With tensions rising following the Authority's decision, Shivakumar appealed to organisations not to call for a bandh and urged people to maintain peace. "This is a peace-loving state. Let us protect everyone's lives," he said. Authorities have meanwhile stepped up security across parts of Bengaluru as a precaution. Sampige Theatre cancelled all shows of Vijay's Jana Nayagan scheduled for Friday, while staff removed or covered posters of actor Vijay to prevent any untoward incidents.
The BriefWire