Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday, 2 August said the state government would take a final call on releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu only after consulting legal experts, senior leaders, and all stakeholders — a position endorsed unanimously at a high-level all-party meeting convened in Bengaluru to deliberate on the interstate river dispute amid severe drought conditions.

A Historic Gathering Across Party Lines

Shivakumar described the meeting as “historic,” noting that it brought together leaders from across the political spectrum. Among those present were former Chief Ministers Siddaramaiah, B.S. Yediyurappa, H.D. Kumaraswamy, and Basavaraj Bommai, along with Union Minister Shobha Karandlaje, Cabinet colleagues, Members of Parliament from both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and former Irrigation Ministers.

“They offered valuable suggestions and assured the state government of their full support in protecting Karnataka’s interests,” Shivakumar said. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda was unable to attend but conveyed his views separately.

The Drought Context and Reservoir Situation

Karnataka has received only 30–35 per cent of normal monsoon rainfall this season, triggering a water crisis that has complicated compliance with federal water-sharing orders. The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days — an order Shivakumar said came “during a crisis period.”

However, the Chief Minister noted that the rainfall situation had improved in recent days. As of Sunday, total reservoir inflows stood at 67,378 cusecs — comprising Kabini at 24,000 cusecs, KRS at 22,000 cusecs, Harangi at 10,430 cusecs, and Hemavathi at 12,000 cusecs. Despite this, Shivakumar stressed that Karnataka must retain at least 40 TMC of water, of which 36 TMC is mandatory for drinking water requirements.

Sharp Contrast With Last Year’s Releases

Shivakumar provided a stark year-on-year comparison to illustrate the severity of the current shortfall. In June last year, Karnataka released 19.19 TMC of water; this year, only 2.9 TMC was released. In July last year, the state released 31 TMC; this year, the figure stood at approximately 3.6 TMC. He noted that until Sunday, no water had been released from any reservoir specifically for inter-state sharing — water from Kabini was released later in the day solely for dam safety.

Legal Options and the Supreme Court

The state government is examining whether to challenge the latest CWMA directions before the Supreme Court. “Our legal team is examining all aspects. After discussions, the state government will take an appropriate decision,” Shivakumar said. He declined to comment on a private petition reportedly filed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in the Supreme Court regarding the distress-sharing formula, saying private petitions were generally not entertained and Karnataka would respond through proper legal channels.

Notably, former Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai suggested that the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project offered a permanent solution to the recurring dispute, arguing it would benefit both states during distress years. Shivakumar said discussions on expediting the project in accordance with Supreme Court directions would be taken forward with the Centre.

Bandh Appeal and Political Temperature

Several pro-Kannada, farmers’, and progressive organisations have called a Karnataka bandh on 13 August over the Cauvery issue, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Janata Dal (Secular) (JD-S) extending support. Shivakumar appealed for restraint, saying he would personally speak to the organisations to request they call off the shutdown. “The government and nature are now standing with the people. There is no need for protests at this stage,” he said.

On demands for an immediate drought declaration, Shivakumar said the Centre’s prescribed norms required assessment reports by the end of August before any formal declaration could be made, dismissing the Opposition’s call as “political.” He also revealed that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay had agreed to postpone a proposed event after being requested to do so, given the all-party meeting and the ongoing crisis. Karnataka BJP president B.Y. Vijayendra had also written to CM Vijay on the Cauvery dispute.

With the CWRC and CWMA meeting every 15 days and fresh directions possible through January, Karnataka’s legal and political strategy on Cauvery will remain fluid in the weeks ahead.