Chennai, 24 July (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has proposed a meeting with his Karnataka counterpart, D.K. Shivakumar, in an effort to resolve the continuing dispute over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, with the State awaiting a formal response from the Karnataka government.

According to Tamil Nadu government sources, the meeting has been proposed against the backdrop of a significant shortfall in Cauvery water releases during the ongoing Southwest monsoon. Officials said Tamil Nadu had suggested that the meeting be held anytime between July 31 and August 3 to discuss the issue directly and explore a mutually acceptable solution.

While there was an expectation that the two Chief Ministers could meet on August 3, the schedule is yet to be confirmed because of Mr. Shivakumar’s prior commitments. Tamil Nadu officials indicated that they expect Karnataka to communicate its decision within the next couple of days.

Despite lower-than-normal rainfall in the Cauvery basin this monsoon, Tamil Nadu maintains that it remains entitled to receive additional water under the provisions of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's final award, as modified by the Supreme Court in its 2018 judgment.

State officials estimate that Tamil Nadu should have received at least 3 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft.) more than what has been released so far. As of July 22, Karnataka had released only about 3.5 tmc ft. of water to Tamil Nadu, leaving a cumulative shortfall of around 28 tmc ft. compared to the quantity stipulated under the tribunal award.

If the proposed meeting materialises, it will mark the first direct interaction between the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on the Cauvery issue in nearly 14 years.

The last such high-level engagement took place in September 2016 in New Delhi. Then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, who was hospitalised at the time, was represented by Public Works Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, while then Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah attended the meeting chaired by Union Water Resources Minister Uma Bharti. The proposed Vijay–Shivakumar meeting is expected to revive political-level dialogue at a crucial stage of the water-sharing dispute.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman