Updated on: 31 Jul 2026
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will chair a consultation meeting at the State Secretariat on Friday to discuss the proposed Mekedatu dam project and the Cauvery water-sharing issue. Minister C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar and senior government officials are expected to attend the meeting, during which key decisions are likely to be taken.
The meeting comes ahead of Vijay’s scheduled visit to Bengaluru on August 3, where he is expected to meet Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to discuss the long-standing Cauvery river water dispute.
According to reports, the two Chief Ministers will hold discussions at the conference hall of the Vidhana Soudha in Bengaluru. The proposed meeting has drawn mixed reactions, with opposition from sections of Tamil Nadu farmers, political leaders and farmers’ organisations in Karnataka.
Earlier this week, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day for 15 days, enabling Tamil Nadu to receive around 4 TMC of water. The Cauvery Water Management Authority subsequently upheld the committee’s directive.
The Cauvery river water-sharing dispute has remained a contentious issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for decades, with tensions usually intensifying during the monsoon season. This year, below-normal rainfall in Karnataka has further aggravated the dispute.
Tamil Nadu Law Minister R. Nirmal Kumar recently said the state would approach the Supreme Court to secure its rightful share of Cauvery water, rejecting Karnataka’s position on the matter.
Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar had invited Vijay to visit the Cauvery reservoir region after the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister expressed his willingness to discuss the issue. Shivakumar said the visit would provide Vijay with a firsthand understanding of the severe water scarcity caused by drought conditions in Karnataka.
