CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay’s plans to visit Bengaluru on Aug 3 for talks on the Cauvery issue suffered a setback on Friday after his Karnataka counterpart D K Shivakumar requested him to defer the visit, saying the situation was not conducive. State law minister R Nirmal Kumar said the govt was exploring all options to resolve the Cauvery row and prevent Mekedatu dam. “We will approach the Supreme Court to get our due share of Cauvery water,’’ Nirmal Kumar told TOI. Meanwhile, Vijay held a meeting to take stock of the water availability in TN reservoirs. He allotted Rs 340 crore for improvement of waterbodies and supply drinking water in tankers. A highly placed source in the govt said the Karnataka CM’s statement was unexpected as the govt officers were preparing for the visit. A senior water resources department officer said that they had prepared a detailed report on the Cauvery issue and were ready with elaborate data to support TN’s case at the proposed meeting. “We had prepared a report based on our representation in the Cauvery Water Management Authority, Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee and the water level in Mettur reservoir. We had also highlighted in the report the drought-like situation in the delta region due to non-release of Cauvery water from Mettur on time for cultivation,” said the official. The state govt had finalised a 13-member delegation comprising ministers and bureaucrats to accompany Vijay during the visit. “But the talks were only one of the options before the govt. We are exploring other options. We are certainly approaching the Supreme Court as Karnataka govt has failed to release TN’s due share of water,’’ said a member of the proposed delegation. TVK govt was also considering the idea of convening an all-party meeting as demanded by several parties. “The demand raised by political leaders for an all-party meeting was discussed at CM’s meeting today (Friday). But a decision has been taken yet,” said a senior minister. Meanwhile, state revenue minister K A Sengottaiyan said CM Vijay would prevent construction of Mekedatu dam at all costs. Sengottaiyan said Shivakumar’s decision to put on hold the meeting with Vijay was not a setback for TN govt. He said TN would continue its attempts to secure Cauvery water through legal as well as political means. CM Vijay held a review meeting with agriculture minister R Vinoth, finance minister Marie Wislon, chief secretary Sai Kumar and other senior officials on the water situation in TN. He took stock of availability of water in reservoirs across the state and rainfall levels. He then directed that Rs 340 crore be released to take up maintenance and improvement of water bodies to store more water and supply drinking water through tankers wherever required.
