CHENNAI/BENGALURU, July 25 -- A proposed meeting between Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Joseph Vijay has opened a fresh political channel to address the long-running Cauvery dispute, with both governments indicating a willingness to discuss water sharing and Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu balancing reservoir amid worsening drought conditions across the basin.

Tamil Nadu minister for agriculture and farmers' welfare R Vinoth said on Friday that Vijay would travel to Karnataka in the first week of August to raise the Mekedatu issue, reiterating the state's opposition to the project.

"The chief minister is set to visit Karnataka next month. Right from the beginning, we have been saying that the Gove...