Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Joseph Vijay will meet in Bengaluru on August 3 to discuss the Cauvery water-sharing issue amid a weak monsoon and growing concerns over water availability.Shivakumar said Vijay had expressed a desire to meet him to discuss inter-state river issues. According to sources, the Tamil Nadu CM is expected to press for the release of Cauvery water on a pro-rata basis, taking into account the rainfall deficit in the river's catchment.The proposed meeting has drawn criticism from the Opposition DMK and PMK in Tamil Nadu, which have urged Vijay to pursue legal remedies instead of holding talks.Addressing Karnataka MPs in New Delhi on Monday, Shivakumar said the Supreme Court's verdict on the Cauvery dispute had protected the interests of both states. He said the court had made it clear that Karnataka did not require the consent of neighbouring states to construct a balancing reservoir within its territory."The Jal Shakti Minister reiterated this position in the Rajya Sabha while replying to a question from Anbumani Ramadoss. I thank him on behalf of Karnataka," Shivakumar said.The Chief Minister also said he had alerted Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the state's worsening drought situation during their recent meeting in New Delhi.He said barring the Almatti and Harangi reservoirs, storage levels in most major reservoirs were critically low, raising concerns over drinking water supplies for people and livestock if the dry spell persisted."I have written to the Prime Minister seeking the Centre's assistance. We need your support to secure the required help," he told the MPs.Shivakumar said the government had advised farmers to plan sowing based on reservoir storage and directed officials to create awareness about water conservation.On the Krishna water dispute, he welcomed the Supreme Court's decision to constitute a special bench to hear issues relating to the notification of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal award.He said the state would also consult legal experts to remove hurdles to the Mahadayi project and would strengthen Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi by creating a dedicated team, led by a separate Resident Commissioner, to pursue pending state projects with the Centre.Calling for cooperation, Shivakumar urged Karnataka MPs to set aside political differences and work together to secure Central approvals for key infrastructure and irrigation projects.