Karnataka Chief Minister Calls All-Party Meeting Over Cauvery Water Dispute

The Cauvery Water Management Authority upheld a directive on July 30, 2026, requiring Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The authority rejected an appeal from D. K. Shivakumar, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, who argued that severe drought and rainfall deficiencies of up to 45% in the Kodagu catchment area made the order untenable. Karnataka officials noted that dry riverbeds might force them to release double the stipulated volume to meet measurement requirements at Biligundlu, potentially jeopardizing local drinking water supplies.

In response, Shivakumar invited Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to Bengaluru and suggested an aerial survey of the basin to assess the hydrological distress. He has convened an all-party meeting for August 2 at his official residence to determine the state's next legal steps. While Shivakumar emphasized a desire to avoid confrontation, the dispute triggered violent protests by Kannada organizations. In Mandya, demonstrators forced the cancellation of screenings for the film 'Jana Nayagan' because it stars Vijay, and Karnataka Rakshana Vedike president Praveen Kumar Shetty called for a state-wide shutdown.

Simultaneously, Vijay wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard lower riparian interests regarding the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project. Within Tamil Nadu, DMK president M. K. Stalin announced a protest in Thanjavur for August 3, alleging the state government has failed farmers.