Karnataka CM says drinking water priority at Cauvery meet

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar convened a high-level all-party meeting on Sunday, August 2, to forge a unified state strategy on the contentious Cauvery water-sharing dispute. The meeting, held in Bengaluru, brought together political leaders from across the spectrum to deliberate on the state's response to recent directives from central water authorities.

The gathering followed orders from the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) for Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu. The Chief Minister described the day as historic, with the entire state closely watching the outcome. He stressed that protecting the interests of Karnataka's people and farmers remains the government's highest priority, a stance he said transcends political differences.

Shivakumar detailed the state's challenging hydrological situation, noting Karnataka has received only about 35 percent of its normal rainfall this year, creating a severe deficit. Despite this, recent monsoon rains in the Kodagu region have improved inflows. He reported that the Kabini reservoir is now full and receiving significant inflows, while the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS)...