Updated on: 28 Jul 2026
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay is set to pursue bilateral talks with Karnataka to resolve the long-pending Cauvery river water-sharing dispute despite strong opposition from farmers, who have urged the State government to abandon the dialogue and instead explore legal options.
With Tamil Nadu facing a severe water shortage, particularly in the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, farmers fear the crisis will affect the cultivation of the Kuruvai paddy crop. The customary opening of the Mettur Dam on June 12 was also delayed this year due to inadequate storage levels.
Farmer representatives who attended a consultative meeting chaired by Agriculture Minister R. Vinoth demanded that the proposed talks with Karnataka be cancelled. The Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers’ Association argued that direct negotiations would bypass the legal framework established by the Supreme Court.
The Opposition DMK has also criticised the proposed talks, urging the State government to seek a dedicated tribunal to resolve the Cauvery dispute and secure Tamil Nadu’s rightful share of river water.
In its 2018 verdict, the Supreme Court constituted the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee to regulate and implement water-sharing between the basin states.
According to official data, Tamil Nadu received only 3.5 TMC ft of water between June 1 and July 22 this year, against the 31 TMC ft allocated under the Supreme Court-approved schedule.
The Chief Minister’s initiative also comes after the Centre informed Parliament that Karnataka does not require the consent of Tamil Nadu or other riparian states to construct the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir.
Replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti Raj Bhushan Choudhary said the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment does not require Karnataka to obtain approval from Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Puducherry before constructing any structure across the Cauvery River.
He added that the Supreme Court had upheld provisions of the 2007 Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, allowing states to regulate water use within their boundaries, provided it does not violate the tribunal’s directions.
The Minister also said Karnataka’s Detailed Project Report for the Mekedatu balancing reservoir-cum-drinking water project, submitted in 2019, had been returned with directions to revise it in accordance with the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and Central Water Commission guidelines.
