Siddarth Sethia
Did Yediyurappa Not Exercise Power Alone Without a Cabinet?
Chief Minister D.K.Shivakumar said that an all-party meeting regarding the Cauvery water issue has been convened this coming Sunday (August 2) at the home office ‘Krishna’.
Responding to queries fr
om media in Karnataka Bhavan here today, he said that,Former Chief Ministers of the state,MPs,and MLAs from the Cauvery basin region have been invited.
He stated,”Today, an appeal has been filed before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA),and we will discuss how to take this matter forward in the all-party meeting.
We have discussed this issue with MPs and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi,V.Somanna,Jagadish Shettar, and Basavaraj Bommai,and they are making utmost efforts for the welfare of the state.”
When asked about Tamil Nadu CM Vijay being advised to approach the Union government instead of Karnataka, he replied,”I will not comment on that matter.
We have no interest in fighting with each other.There is a law of the land.We must respect one another.The entire country must work together.
When asked about BJP leaders’criticism regarding the cabinet expansion,he counter-questioned,Didn’t Yediyurappa also run the administration without forming a cabinet? Didn’t the father-son duo enjoy power back then?”.
Gist of deliberations of 54th meeting of CWMA Dated:
30.07.2026
1.Karnataka’s submissions:
1) Acute hydrological distress: Karnataka’s inflows are
65.65% below the 30-year average due to the Super El
Niño.
2) Dual advantage to Tamil Nadu:It benefits from both
Karnataka’s releases and the forthcoming North-East
Monsoon.
3) Carryover storage:Tamil Nadu already has substantial
carryover storage from Karnataka’s earlier releases.
4) Historical trend: In distress years, North-East
Monsoon has significantly augmented Tamil Nadu’s
storages.
5) Transmission losses: Ensuring 3,500 cusecs at
Biligundlu would require Karnataka to release nearly
7,000 cusecs due to dry river conditions and
conveyance losses.
6) Drinking water priority: Karnataka must conserve
about 40 TMC to safeguard drinking water needs till
June 2027.
7) Prayer :Keep the CWRC’s direction in abeyance for another fortnight and review the evolving hydrological situation.
2.Tamil Nadu’s submissions :
Tamil Nadu urged the CWMA to direct Karnataka to
enhance the daily release beyond 3,500 cusecs
contending that the prevailing hydrological distress
warranted a higher quantum of release.
3. CWMA’s Decision :
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA),at
its meeting held today, has affirmed and endorsed the
decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee
(CWRC) dated 28.07.2026, directing Karnataka to ensure a daily flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for a period of
15 days.
