A farmers’ body has demanded that Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar visit the drought-affected Cauvery delta if CM Vijay travels to Bengaluru for talks.
Cauvery Farmers Demand Reciprocal Delta Visit
The Cauvery Farmers’ Association has urged Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay to arrange a reciprocal visit by Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar to the Cauvery delta districts, where farmers say Kuruvai paddy crops have withered because of inadequate water availability.
The demand comes ahead of Vijay’s planned visit to Bengaluru on Monday, August 3, 2026, for discussions with Shivakumar over Cauvery water sharing and the proposed Mekedatu reservoir. Tamil Nadu Agriculture Minister R Vinoth previously confirmed the meeting, saying the state would continue to oppose the Mekedatu project.
Association General Secretary P R Pandian argued that if Vijay is shown Karnataka’s reservoirs during the visit, Shivakumar should also be brought to Tamil Nadu to examine agricultural conditions in the delta. He said such a visit would allow the Karnataka leader to see the damage reportedly suffered by the standing Kuruvai crop.
Cauvery Talks Face Opposition From Farmers
Pandian expressed opposition to the bilateral meeting, warning that political negotiations should not weaken Tamil Nadu’s rights secured through legal proceedings and statutory water-sharing mechanisms.
Farmers’ organisations fear that direct discussions could provide Karnataka with an opportunity to advance its proposed balancing reservoir at Mekedatu. Tamil Nadu has consistently argued that the project could affect the quantity and timing of Cauvery water reaching its agricultural districts.
Pandian said legally obtained rights should not be surrendered in the name of bilateral engagement. Other farmers’ groups and political parties have also raised concerns that talks outside the established institutional framework could weaken Tamil Nadu’s position.
Cauvery Meeting Scheduled For August 3
Vijay is expected to meet Shivakumar in Bengaluru on August 3 to seek the release of water required to protect Kuruvai crops. The meeting is considered significant because chief minister-level discussions on the dispute have been rare in recent years.
The Tamil Nadu government has maintained that dialogue will not change its opposition to Mekedatu. Supporters of the visit believe direct engagement could help secure an immediate water release, while critics argue that decisions must remain with the Cauvery Water Management Authority and other bodies created under the Supreme Court-backed framework.
Pandian’s claim that Karnataka is arranging an aerial survey of its dams during Vijay’s visit has been reported as an allegation by the farmers’ body; no separate official confirmation of that proposed survey was cited in the report.
Cauvery Delta Conditions Take Centre Stage
The reciprocal-visit demand seeks to place the condition of Tamil Nadu’s farmers at the centre of the political discussion. Delta cultivators depend heavily on timely Cauvery releases for Kuruvai cultivation, making delays or shortfalls particularly damaging during crucial crop stages.
The farmers’ association wants Shivakumar to directly examine the affected fields before any broader understanding is reached between the two governments. It argues that visiting reservoirs in Karnataka without examining crop losses in Tamil Nadu would present only one side of the dispute.
With the August 3 meeting approaching, attention will remain on whether Vijay proceeds with the planned talks, what assurances Karnataka offers and whether Tamil Nadu’s concerns over water releases and Mekedatu receive a concrete response.
