'Why Release Water When We Can Hold It Back?' Says Shivakumar As Cauvery Water Dispute Drags On

Published 1 August 2026 · india

'Why Release Water When We Can Hold It Back?' Says Shivakumar As Cauvery Water Dispute Drags On Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026, 12:18

'Why Release Water When We Can Hold It Back?' Says Shivakumar As Cauvery Water Dispute Drags On Published By, Last Updated: August 01, 2026, 12:18 IST Shivakumar urged his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C. Joseph Vijay, to postpone his scheduled visit to the state in view of the recent order by the CWMA and the prevailing turmoil Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar Days after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) issued directions on regulating the river water, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar reaffirmed the State government’s stand that it cannot release water to Tamil Nadu, citing Karnataka’s prevailing water constraints. The development came a day after Shivakumar urged his Tamil Nadu counterpart, C. Joseph Vijay, to postpone his scheduled visit to the state in view of the recent order by the CWMA and the prevailing turmoil.

“We have not released water yet. It is raining and another reservoir may fill up today itself. Let’s wait and see if another reservoir fills up by this evening", the Karnataka CM told CNN-News18. “Why should we release water when we can hold it back?" he asked. All-Party Meeting Tomorrow Referring to the decision of the state’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unit to boycott an all-party meeting on the Cauvery water dispute, CM Shivakumar said: “The BJP asked for an all-party meeting. We’ve called one for tomorrow. Now they’re saying something else. Let them." “We’ll speak in detail after tomorrow’s all-party meeting", he told CNN-News18. The Karnataka CM has called for an all-party meeting on Sunday, August 2, to address the Cauvery water dispute. The decision came shortly after pro-Kannada groups, which have been against the release of water to Tamil Nadu, held a meeting on Friday and announced a statewide bandh on August 13.

Shivakumar also deferred the August 3 meeting with Tamil Nadu counterpart C. Joseph Vijay, citing the prevailing tensions. According to him, the State government had initially prepared to host Vijay but sought a postponement to ensure the meeting takes place in a conducive atmosphere. “I feel that the atmosphere is not right at this point of time. I am appealing to him (Mr. Vijay) to postpone the visit for some time because we should have a very cordial atmosphere. I want both States to benefit from it," he said. The CWMA Order The CWMA on Thursday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order, directing the Karnataka government to release water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The CWMA order marked the first Cauvery crisis encountered by the two new CMs of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu –– Shivakumar and Vijay –– even as their parties are political allies.