Karnataka CM Offers Helicopter Tour to Show Cauvery Ground Reality Amid Water Row

Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has offered Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay a helicopter tour of the Cauvery basin to demonstrate the ground reality of water availability, as the two states remain locked in a dispute over the sharing of river water.

Speaking to reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday, Shivakumar said the state government will challenge an order by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) that directs Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu. He confirmed that preparations are underway to file an appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).

“We have held a high-level meeting with the Advocate General, legal experts, and senior officials regarding the CWRC order. Preparations are currently underway to file an appeal before the CWMA,” Shivakumar said.

The CWRC, a statutory body under the CWMA, had directed Karnataka to release a specified quantity of water to Tamil Nadu, citing the prevailing distress sharing formula. Karnataka, however, has maintained that its own reservoirs are facing acute shortage due to deficient rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area.

Shivakumar, who also holds the water resources portfolio, invited his Tamil Nadu counterpart to witness the situation first-hand. “I invite the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister to take a helicopter tour of the Cauvery basin in Karnataka to see the ground reality. The water situation is dire, and we cannot release water at the cost of our farmers’ livelihoods,” he said.

The Cauvery water dispute is a long-standing issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, with both states relying on the river for irrigation and drinking water. The CWMA, established by the Supreme Court in 2018, oversees the implementation of the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. Karnataka has often argued that its districts in the Cauvery basin, particularly Mandya and Mysuru, are facing drought-like conditions.

Shivakumar’s offer comes amid rising political tensions between the two states. Tamil Nadu has demanded strict compliance with the CWRC order, while Karnataka has sought a review. The matter is also being watched by farmers’ groups on both sides, who have threatened protests if water sharing is not equitable.

The Karnataka government has previously filed multiple appeals against CWMA directives, citing insufficient rainfall and low reservoir levels. According to state data, the four main reservoirs in the Cauvery basin — Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathi, and Krishnaraja Sagara — have only 30% of their capacity, far below the decadal average.

Experts note that the dispute is not just about water but also about political prestige. Both states have major assembly elections looming, making any concession politically difficult. The Supreme Court has in the past urged both governments to adopt a cooperative approach, but the issue remains intractable.

As of now, the CWMA is expected to hear Karnataka’s appeal in the coming days. The Tamil Nadu government has not yet responded to Shivakumar’s invitation.