Bengaluru: Federation of State Farmers’ Organisations and State Sugarcane Growers’ Association president Kuruburu Shanthakumar has welcomed the proposed visit of a delegation led by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to Karnataka on August 3, saying it presents an opportunity to find an amicable solution to the long-pending Cauvery water-sharing dispute and the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project.
In a media statement, Shanthakumar said dialogue between the two states, rather than prolonged confrontation, was the best way to achieve a lasting resolution to the decades-old river dispute.
He called for the adoption of a scientific and equitable distress-sharing formula based on actual water availability in reservoirs during years of deficient rainfall. He said the drinking water requirements of Bengaluru and other parts of Karnataka, along with the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu, should receive top priority over political considerations.
The farmers’ leader also proposed the formation of a joint technical committee comprising irrigation experts, meteorologists, legal experts and government officials from both states to make water-sharing decisions based on satellite data and real-time reservoir levels.
Referring to water management, Shanthakumar said a substantial quantity of water had flowed into the sea during periods of heavy rainfall in the past, while drought conditions this year underscored the need for a balanced approach. He argued that the proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir could help store surplus water and enable regulated releases to Tamil Nadu during dry periods.
He urged people in both states to support the project and suggested that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu jointly promote water-efficient agricultural practices suited to the available water resources.
Describing the Cauvery as a river that should unite rather than divide the two states, Shanthakumar said decisions reached through mutual trust and cooperation would benefit millions of farmers and citizens more than prolonged legal battles.
He expressed hope that the proposed August 3 meeting would mark the beginning of a new phase of cooperation and lead to a long-term solution for issues in the Cauvery basin.
