Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Chennai on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar brought up the issue of the Mekedatu project at the Southern Zonal Council, arguing that the project is important not only for Karnataka but for Tamil Nadu as well.“Senior leader and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu told me that we need to solve the Cauvery water issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Let me assure you, every drop of water from the Mekedatu project will help farmers in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. Help us help you,” he appealed, according to a communique from the Chief Minister’s Office.In his address on water issues, Mr. Shivakumar said rivers such as the Cauvery, Krishna, Tungabhadra, Pennar and Palar were the lifelines of the southern peninsula and called for a shift from “water sharing to water cooperation”.Referring to the June 25 meeting involving Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana, he said the three States had demonstrated that inter-State water issues could be addressed through dialogue. “We accept that every riparian State has legitimate needs. Our stand rests on three principles: equity, transparency, and cooperation,” he said.At the same time, he asserted that cooperation must be reciprocated and that Karnataka’s lawful share under tribunal awards and the timely completion of projects benefiting its farmers must be protected. Mr. Shivakumar said he would place Karnataka’s position on the Krishna, upper Bhadra, and the interlinking of rivers before the Council. Published - August 20, 2026 07:20 pm IST
