Bengaluru: Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Monday said the state would respond through legal channels after consulting legal experts on Tamil Nadu’s move to approach the Supreme Court over the Cauvery water dispute.
Addressing reporters after chairing a two‑hour Cabinet meeting with the newly inducted Ministers at Vidhana Soudha, Shivakumar said Karnataka would continue to protect its interests while complying with the legal framework governing the sharing of Cauvery waters.
“We respect the law and will respond legally. Karnataka has complied with the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s directions within the legal framework, and all political parties in the state have stood united in protecting Karnataka’s interests,” he said.
The meeting, the first after the swearing‑in of 19 new Ministers earlier in the day, also reviewed the state’s preparedness to tackle heavy rainfall and drought conditions across Karnataka.
Shivakumar said the newly inducted Ministers had been directed to visit the districts assigned to them from Wednesday, assess the impact of excessive rainfall and drought, and submit detailed reports to the Revenue Minister.
“We have instructed the new Ministers to visit their respective districts, inspect areas affected by excessive rainfall and drought, and submit reports after conducting field assessments. The government will take decisions based on these reports,” he said.
The Chief Minister said the Cabinet deliberated on the key challenges confronting the state, including drought, drinking water availability and rain‑related damage in several districts.
He noted that recent rainfall had provided temporary relief from the looming water crisis but cautioned that drought concerns had not completely subsided.
“The situation had become extremely critical, but recent rains have brought temporary relief. Reservoirs such as KRS and Hemavathi are yet to fill up despite increased inflows. There have been rain‑related incidents in Shivamogga and Thirthahalli, and appropriate relief measures will be taken after receiving reports,” he said.
Shivakumar also directed the Ministers to conduct field inspections along with elected representatives from all political parties to ensure a transparent assessment of flood and drought damage.
He added that the government had already sanctioned Rs 1 crore for every Assembly constituency to address drinking water requirements, and further decisions would be taken after district‑level assessment reports are submitted.
