Karnataka water resources minister rejects BJP protests over Cauvery dispute, calls for political unity

Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Friday (July 31) slammed the state’s opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over its protest at the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam in Mandya district the same day over the Cauvery water row.

According to him, calling the agitation was unnecessary since the state was already pursuing legal and political avenues to protect its interests.

Also read: Cauvery row flares up: Shivakumar urges Vijay to defer Bengaluru visit; Karnataka bandh on Aug 13

This came after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld a Cauvery Water Regulation Committee recommendation on Thursday (July 30) to release 3,500 cusecs of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu over the next fortnight.

Karnataka had underlined the severe drought situation prevailing in the state due to scanty rainfall.

'No need for BJP to protest'

“There was no need for the BJP to hold a protest near the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Dam. I don't know why they are protesting. We have approached the authorities keeping in mind the interests of our state and our farmers," Reddy told reporters in Bengaluru.

Stressing the need for political unity on issues concerning Karnataka’s interests, the Congress leader said, “Whenever issues concerning our land, water and language arise, all of us must display unity. Even when the BJP was in power, we extended our support to them on issues like this. I don't know why they are protesting. Have we said that we are going to release water?"

His remarks came as BJP leaders, led by state president B Y Vijayendra, staged a protest near the KRS Dam in Mandya against the state’s Congress government over the Cauvery water-sharing issue.

Also read: Cauvery row boils over: TN rushes to SC; Karnataka to hold all-party meet

Reddy, who took charge of major and medium irrigation in the DK Shivakumar-led government that assumed control in June, said the government had invited the Leader of the Opposition and leaders of all political parties to discuss the issue, as protecting the state's interests remained its priority.

No immediate concern over water availability: Minister

On Karnataka's water availability, the minister said there was no immediate concern over drinking water, though the situation remained challenging because of deficient rainfall and the need to conserve water.

“If you consider the water available in all our four reservoirs together, there will also be evaporation losses. We need about 3.5 TMC of water every month for drinking purposes. If it rains, there will be no problem at all,” he said.

Recalling previous years, Reddy said more than 360 TMC of water had flowed downstream during 2022 and 2025 due to heavy rainfall, with Tamil Nadu utilising part of it while the remainder flowed into the sea.

Also read: 'Don't fall into the trap': TN parties unite against Vijay's Karnataka visit

“This year, rainfall has been deficient. Had it not rained 15 to 20 days ago, we would have faced problems even for drinking water. Since that rainfall occurred, we do not foresee any drinking water shortage this year,” he said.

The minister also noted that Tamil Nadu had around 40 TMC of water available in the Mettur and Bhavani-Eloor reservoirs and said it too was not facing any drinking water shortage at present.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Shivakumar urged his Tamil Nadu counterpart Joseph Vijay to defer his visit to Bengaluru scheduled for Monday (August 3) keeping in view the tense circumstances over the water-sharing issue. Pro-Kannada groups also called a state-wide strike on August 13 protesting the CWMA’s direction to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu.

(With agency inputs)