Basavaraj Bommai Says Protecting Karnataka Drinking Water Must Come Before Cauvery Release

Former Karnataka Chief Minister and Member of Parliament Basavaraj Bommai has asserted that safeguarding drinking water for the people of Karnataka must remain the state’s highest priority amid the ongoing Cauvery water dispute. He said the government should focus on ensuring adequate water for domestic use before considering additional releases to Tamil Nadu.

Speaking in New Delhi, Bommai explained that disputes over the sharing of Cauvery waters usually become more intense during years of poor rainfall in the river basin. He said Karnataka is currently facing a challenging situation due to inadequate rainfall and limited water availability in its reservoirs.

Bommai announced that political parties in Karnataka would present a united and firm position during the all party meeting scheduled for August 2. According to him, the meeting will focus on protecting the state’s interests while deciding the future course of action regarding the Cauvery issue.

He pointed out that Karnataka and Tamil Nadu receive rainfall during different monsoon seasons. Karnataka depends mainly on the southwest monsoon between June and September, while Tamil Nadu benefits largely from the northeast monsoon after September. Once water is released downstream, he said, it cannot be brought back, making every decision during periods of shortage extremely important.

Emphasising the difference in priorities, Bommai said Tamil Nadu is seeking water largely for agricultural and irrigation purposes, whereas Karnataka is struggling to secure enough water for the basic drinking needs of its people. In such circumstances, he argued that providing safe drinking water should take precedence over all other considerations.

He also expressed concern over the functioning of the authorities and committees established under the Cauvery Water Tribunal framework. According to Bommai, these bodies have not fully recognised the seriousness of Karnataka’s water shortage and have failed to adequately consider the state’s ground realities while making decisions.

Bommai said Karnataka should wait until rainfall improves and reservoir inflows increase before taking any further decision on water release. Until the storage situation becomes comfortable, he believes the state’s immediate responsibility is to protect available drinking water resources.

He further stated that Karnataka is prepared to continue its legal battle if necessary to defend its rights over Cauvery water. Legal remedies, he said, remain an important option while the state works to safeguard the interests of its citizens during the present water crisis.

The Cauvery dispute remains one of the country’s longest running inter state water sharing issues, with rainfall patterns often influencing the level of tension between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. As the all party meeting approaches, the state’s leadership is expected to discuss both legal and administrative measures to address the situation while ensuring that public drinking water needs remain protected.