CWRC Urges Inter-State Accord on Cauvery Distress-Sharing as Water Deficits Mount

The Call for a Bilateral Formula

In a direct response to criticisms regarding current water management protocols, Vineet Gupta, chairperson of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), has called upon Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to negotiate their own distress-sharing agreement. While Tamil Nadu has frequently requested a permanent, scientific framework for water distribution during lean periods, Gupta noted on July 29, 2026, that the two states should proactively draft and present such a formula to the regulating bodies.

Gupta defended the existing operations of the CWRC and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), which oversee the implementation of the 2007 tribunal award as adjusted by the Supreme Court in 2018. He highlighted that a temporary sharing mechanism was successfully utilized during the 2023-24 water year to manage shortages.

Current Hydrological Deficits

The latest directives from the CWRC require Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cubic feet per second (cusecs) at the Biligundlu gauge site for the upcoming fortnight. Meeting this target requires Karnataka to release between 6,000 and 6,500 cusecs from its four basin reservoirs due to extreme aridity in the intermediate catchment areas. Data reveals a stark reality for the region:

• Rainfall and Inflow: Karnataka's reservoirs face a 60% deficit in net inflow compared to long-term averages.
• Biligundlu Shortfall: The gauge site reports a 90% deficit, with flows fluctuating between only 150 and 200 cusecs.
• Cumulative Realisation: As of July 27, only 0.6 tmc ft had been recorded at Biligundlu, far below the mandated 27.2 tmc ft for the period.
• Seasonal Statistics: Total realization since June 1 is roughly 3.6 tmc ft, representing a massive gap from the stipulated 36.4 tmc ft.

Calculations Behind the 15-Day Order

The CWRC arrived at the current release mandate by analyzing 30-year long-term averages alongside recent Meteorological Department data. Although the total cumulative shortfall reached 33 tmc ft, the committee assessed the immediate net deficit at 9.8 tmc ft. Under current conditions, the panel determined that Karnataka could offset approximately 50% of this gap, resulting in the 4.5 tmc ft target set for the next 15 days.

The lack of moisture in the intermediate catchment between the KRS-Kabini dams and the border has complicated the situation. While this area typically yields 80 tmc ft annually, it remains entirely dry this July, forcing higher discharge requirements from upstream reservoirs to meet downstream obligations.

Source: The Hindu — News