What is the rationale behind Cauvery panel’s decision on release of water to T.N.? | Explained
The story so far: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which met in Delhi on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) to review the situation, directed Karnataka
The story so far: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which met in Delhi on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) to review the situation, directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, starting from Wednesday (July 29). If the quantity of 3,500 cusecs is available throughout the day for 15 days, the quantum of water that the State would get is about 4.5 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft). What is the brief for the CWRC in tackling the Cauvery dispute? The CWRC functions under the ambit of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which constitutes the implementation mechanism for the final award (2007) of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal as modified by the Supreme Court in 2018. Headed by Member (Water Resources) of the CWMA — being held by Vineet Gupta — the Committee comprises Chief Engineers of all the basin constituents and a representative each of the India Meteorological Department, Central Water Commission, and the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. According to a notification issued by the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti in June 2018, the Committee monitors daily water levels, inflows and storage at each of the reservoirs – Hemavathy, Harangi, Krishnarajasagara (KRS) and Kabini [all in Karnataka], Mettur, Bhavanisagar and Amaravathy [all in Tamil Nadu] and Banasurasagar in Kerala.
It is to ensure ten daily releases of water on a monthly basis from the reservoirs as directed by the Authority. It is also to prepare seasonal — southwest monsoon (June-October 15); northeast monsoon (October 16-January 31) and hot weather (February-May) — and annual reports of the water account. During either of the monsoons, the CWRC ordinarily holds meetings once in 15 days in a hybrid mode. As there has been scanty rainfall in the Cauvery catchment this time with Tamil Nadu pressing its demand for the release of its share of water, the CWRC met on July 28 to review the situation. It will meet again on August 11. How does the Committee arrive at decisions in times of distress? The hydro-meteorological conditions prevailing in the Cauvery basin, including the rainfall recorded and the forecast or outlook for the ensuing fortnight, live storage position, inflows into and outflows from the eight reservoirs, and the realisation of flows at Biligundulu are reviewed and deliberated upon in detail. Compliance with the decision and directions issued during the prevoius meeting is also reviewed at the next meeting. What else was considered by the CWRC in fixing quantum of water release? The Committee took into account net inflow to the four reservoirs in Karnataka during the current season and compared it with the 30-year-long data.
The BriefWire