CM Vijay to Pursue Cauvery Talks With Karnataka Despite Farmers Oppn

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is keen on engaging neighbouring Karnataka in bilateral talks to resolve the long-standing Cauvery river water-sharing dispute, despite strong opposition from the farmers who have asked the government to call off the talks, an official source said on Tuesday. 

Amidst a severe shortage of water afflicting the state, especially the Cauvery delta districts of Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, marring the prospects of raising the short-term Kuruvai paddy crop, and with the customary opening of the Mettur dam on June 12



getting postponed due to inadequate water storage level, the farmers have demanded the state government to explore legal options against Karnataka rather than hold diplomatic talks.

Farmer representatives who attended a consultative meeting with state Agriculture Minister R Vinoth here on Monday have sought the cancellation of talks between the two states. 

The representatives of the Tamil Nadu Cauvery Farmers' Association argued that direct negotiations would bypass the established legal protocol and contradict the Supreme Court verdict.