Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday said he is ready to hold discussions with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over the long-pending Mekedatu Balancing Reservoir and Drinking Water Project, urging both states to keep political differences aside and prioritise public interest. His remarks came amid renewed debate over the inter-State river water sharing issue.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru after casting his vote in the Legislative Council elections, Shivakumar said he was open to dialogue at any time and emphasised that both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu share a common dependency on river water resources. He noted that water is essential for irrigation, drinking needs and industrial use, and called for cooperation between the two neighbouring States.

The Chief Minister stressed that the Mekedatu project should not be viewed through a narrow political lens, highlighting the close social and economic ties between people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He pointed out that citizens from both States live and work across borders, making collaboration on shared resources even more important.

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Shivakumar said the Congress, which is also part of the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu, would facilitate discussions on the project. He reiterated that the proposed reservoir would help regulate Cauvery water flow, ensuring Tamil Nadu receives its allocated share while also addressing Karnataka’s drinking water needs, particularly for Bengaluru and surrounding districts.

Explaining the project’s benefits, he said the balancing reservoir would ensure regulated release of 177 TMC of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu as per Supreme Court directions, while also supporting water supply for districts such as Mandya, Hassan, Chamarajanagar and Tumakuru. He added that the project is primarily intended for drinking water security rather than irrigation expansion.

Shivakumar also argued that the project would generate around 400 MW of electricity and contribute to long-term water management solutions for southern India. He maintained that Karnataka has consistently complied with court-mandated water-sharing obligations and pointed out that large volumes of water from the Cauvery basin flow unused into the sea every year.

The Chief Minister further said the issue has often been politicised in Tamil Nadu and stressed that the Supreme Court has already examined and ruled on key aspects of the dispute. He said the matter now rests with technical evaluation by the Central Water Commission and urged that the project be viewed in the context of legal clarity and mutual benefit rather than electoral politics.

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