CWRC Directs Karnataka to Release 4 TMCFT of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu Despite Drought
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has ordered Karnataka to supply 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days starting July 29. The directive comes as Karnataka reports a 35% rainfall deficit and reservoir levels at half their total capacity.
Interstate Water Mandate Issued Amid Crisis
In a decision reached during a Tuesday session in Delhi, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) instructed Karnataka to discharge water to Tamil Nadu at a rate of 3,500 cusecs per day. This 15-day mandate, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on July 29, 2026, totals approximately 4 tmcft. The committee issued the directive after evaluating reservoir levels in both states and accounting for predicted El Nino weather patterns that may exacerbate dry conditions.
Karnataka’s Hydrological Deficit and Legal Response
State officials in Karnataka expressed immediate concern over the order, citing a severe drought. Water Resources Minister K. Ramalinga Reddy indicated the state may challenge the decision before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). Current data reveals the severity of the shortage:
- Total storage across Karnataka’s four Cauvery basin reservoirs is at 62.31 tmcft, just 54% of the 114.57 tmcft capacity.
- The Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir is at 34% capacity.
- The Kodagu catchment area reports a 45% rainfall shortage.
- Inflows between June 1 and July 27, 2026, were 65.86% below the 30-year average.
Minister Reddy and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar, currently in Delhi to seek federal drought assistance, maintain that existing reserves are only sufficient for drinking water. This stance aligns with a July 22 directive from the CWMA, which advised both states to prioritize domestic consumption over irrigation.
Competing Claims at the Biligundlu Gauge
Tamil Nadu’s representatives argued for the release by highlighting a significant shortfall in their pro-rata share. According to their submissions, the flow recorded at Biligundlu reached only 3.543 tmcft by July 26, far below the mandated 35.391 tmcft for this period. Tamil Nadu officials reported a backlog of 9.46 tmcft. While Karnataka has already prohibited irrigation in Cauvery command areas to conserve supply, the CWRC determined that some level of downstream release was necessary despite the 35% statewide rainfall deficit.
Source: The Hindu — News
