Chennai, 01 August (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has deferred his proposed August 3 visit to Bengaluru after Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar sought a postponement of the meeting amid escalating tensions over the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.

The visit was expected to mark the first direct engagement between the two Chief Ministers on contentious inter-State water issues. However, the political atmosphere in Karnataka turned tense following the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29.

The order triggered protests in several parts of Karnataka, particularly in the Cauvery heartland of Mandya. Against this backdrop, Karnataka conveyed that the prevailing situation was not conducive to bilateral discussions, prompting Vijay to put the visit on hold, sources said.

Vijay had earlier held consultations with senior officials of the Tamil Nadu Water Resources Department to assess the implications of proceeding with the meeting. The talks with Karnataka had been initiated at his request and were expected to cover the Cauvery dispute as well as the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.

The situation intensified after the Cauvery Water Management Authority rejected Karnataka’s request to stay the CWRC directive. Protests subsequently spread, with demonstrators reportedly targeting posters of Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan and disrupting screenings at some theatres.

Tamil Nadu has not yet formally announced the postponement. Sources said a fresh date could be considered once tensions subside and conditions become conducive for talks.

The proposed meeting has also drawn criticism from Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu. The DMK, AIADMK, PMK, AMMK and Left parties have opposed bilateral negotiations with Karnataka under the present circumstances.

Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed Karnataka’s Mekedatu project, maintaining that the proposed reservoir could affect the State’s rightful share of Cauvery water.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman