Cauvery Row: Karnataka To Challenge CWRC Order Directing Water Release To Tamil Nadu
Cauvery Row: Karnataka To Challenge CWRC Order Directing Water Release To Tamil Nadu Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 21:11 IST The
Cauvery Row: Karnataka To Challenge CWRC Order Directing Water Release To Tamil Nadu Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 29, 2026, 21:11 IST The CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a period of 15 days as part of the inter-state water-sharing arrangement. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday. The Karnataka government has decided to challenge the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) directive asking it to release water to Tamil Nadu, arguing that reservoir levels remain insufficient to meet the state’s own drinking water and domestic requirements. The decision was taken at an emergency meeting chaired by Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy on Wednesday. The CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a period of 15 days as part of the inter-state water-sharing arrangement under the Cauvery basin framework.
However, Karnataka has maintained that prevailing hydrological conditions do not permit such a release. Following the meeting, the state government decided to file an appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), seeking a review of the CWRC’s directions. Why Karnataka Is Opposing the Order According to the state government, cumulative inflows into the four major Cauvery reservoirs are currently only 65.86 per cent of the 30-year average, indicating a significant shortfall in rainfall and water availability. Officials argued that existing storage levels are barely adequate to meet Bengaluru’s and other regions’ drinking water and domestic needs in the coming months. The government also pointed to adverse hydrological conditions across the basin, stating that riverbeds and riverbanks remain dry, bank storage has not been replenished and groundwater levels continue to be significantly depleted. Given these conditions, Karnataka contends that releasing additional water at this stage could jeopardise its own water security.
Karnataka’s Case Against Immediate Release The state government has also argued that Tamil Nadu currently has sufficient water reserves. According to Karnataka’s assessment, Tamil Nadu has around 41 TMC of live storage available, including approximately 36 TMC in the Mettur reservoir and another 5 TMC in the Bhavani system. Karnataka further noted that Tamil Nadu is expected to receive rainfall during the North-East Monsoon later this year, while Karnataka does not benefit significantly from that monsoon season. Based on these factors, the state government has described the CWRC’s directive as “premature" and said a fresh assessment of water availability should be undertaken before any release is ordered. Appeal Before CWMA The Karnataka government is now preparing to formally approach the Cauvery Water Management Authority, the apex body overseeing the implementation of the Cauvery water-sharing mechanism, seeking relief from the CWRC’s order. The latest dispute is likely to reignite tensions between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the sharing of Cauvery waters, an issue that has repeatedly sparked legal and political confrontations between the two southern states during years of deficient rainfall.
The BriefWire