Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister G. Parameshwara on Wednesday, 29 July confirmed that the state government will convene an all-party meeting — proposed by Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar — to deliberate on the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, even as the Cauvery Water Regulatory Authority (CWRA) has directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu amid an acute drinking water shortage across the state.

What the CWRA Order Means for Karnataka

The CWRA directive puts Karnataka in a difficult position: comply with a legally binding release order while simultaneously managing a severe internal water crisis. Parameshwara underlined the tension directly, questioning the feasibility of the release given current reservoir levels.

'Every time this issue surfaces, we have cooperated whenever there has been sufficient water. Last year and the year before that, Karnataka released more than the prescribed amount to Tamil Nadu. But when we are facing an acute drinking water shortage, it is necessary to examine how tenable it is to direct Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water,' he said.

Legal Consultations and Next Steps

A meeting with legal experts was held in New Delhi on Tuesday to chart Karnataka's future course of action. Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy was also present at the deliberations. Parameshwara said consultations would continue and that decisions would be guided by legal counsel.

There is also a possibility of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay visiting Bengaluru on 4 August, during which the Cauvery dispute could be taken up bilaterally. The proposed all-party meeting is expected to precede or coincide with this visit.

Farmer Protests and Ground-Level Distress

Farmer organisations in Mandya and surrounding districts have announced protests, reflecting deep anxiety over the water situation. Parameshwara acknowledged their concerns as understandable, saying: 'Farmer groups are expressing their anguish because they are aware of the water shortage situation in the state.'

Mandya, which lies in the Cauvery basin, is among the districts most directly affected by any reduction in water availability — making the CWRA order particularly sensitive for the region's agricultural communities.

Mekedatu Project and Tamil Nadu's Opposition

Parameshwara reiterated Karnataka's firm stance on the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project, saying judicial rulings clearly limit Tamil Nadu's grounds for objection to its allocated water share — not the project itself.

Responding to reports that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposing the project, Parameshwara said: 'The Prime Minister is not above the courts. The court's verdict is final, and it is in favour of Karnataka. We will proceed accordingly.'

Drought Relief and Centre's Criteria

The Deputy Chief Minister also addressed Karnataka's ongoing drought conditions, confirming that the state has already apprised the Centre of the severity of the situation and sought relaxation in the ten criteria currently used to declare drought. He specifically flagged North Karnataka, where some taluks have recorded an 80 per cent rainfall deficit.

'If taluks that have recorded an 80 per cent rainfall deficit cannot be declared drought-prone, then the existing criteria are not serving their purpose. That is why we have sought relaxation,' he said. The Centre's assessment team is expected to visit Karnataka in September, following rainfall data compiled through end of August.

With legal consultations ongoing, an all-party meeting imminent, and a possible inter-state CM-level discussion on the horizon, Karnataka's Cauvery strategy over the coming weeks will be closely watched.