Karnataka, TN set for first Cauvery talks in over a decade as Bengaluru Vidhana Soudha readies for Aug 3 meeting
Bengaluru: Preparations are underway at the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru ahead of a high-level bilateral meeting between the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments on the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, scheduled to be held at 2 p.m. on August 3, top sources confirmed on Tuesday.
However, official statement in this regard is yet to be issued.
The meeting will take place in the conference hall on the third floor of Vidhana Soudha and is expected to be attended by Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, his Tamil Nadu counterpart C. Joseph Vijay, Ministers from both states, and senior officials.
According to official sources, extensive arrangements are being made at the venue located in the third floor of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru, including cleaning works, inspection of lighting and air-conditioning systems, and possible replacement of flooring ahead of the event.
Seating arrangements have been made for around 25 participants, including the two Chief Ministers, Ministers, delegates, and senior bureaucrats from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Officials have also been directed to install the official emblems and flags of both states at the conference hall to mark the occasion.
The meeting assumes significance as it will mark the first direct bilateral talks between the governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery issue in more than a decade.
The last such meeting between the Chief Ministers of the two states was held in Bengaluru in November 2012 in an attempt to resolve the water-sharing dispute, though it did not result in a consensus.
The upcoming talks follow a letter sent by Karnataka Chief Minister Shivakumar to his Tamil Nadu counterpart Vijay last week, conveying his willingness to hold discussions on the Cauvery issue.
The development comes amid heightened tensions over water sharing between the two southern states.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Authority (CWRA) on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu despite Karnataka facing an acute water shortage due to deficient monsoon rains.
Adding to the friction between the two states, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay recently wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, reiterating his state’s concerns over its potential impact on downstream water availability.
Despite these differences, the preparations are continued in Bengaluru and both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments have agreed to engage in dialogue in an effort to find common ground on contentious issues, including water sharing and the Mekedatu project.
Sources said the bilateral meeting is expected to focus on ensuring equitable water distribution, addressing Karnataka’s concerns over drinking water requirements, and discussing the future course of action regarding the Mekedatu project.
With reservoir levels remaining low across the Cauvery basin and water scarcity looming over in Karnataka, the August 3 meeting is being closely watched as a potentially significant step toward reviving inter-state dialogue on one of India’s most contentious river disputes.