CWMA Directs Karnataka to Release 3500 Cusecs of Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu

The Cauvery Water Management Authority has directed Karnataka to release 3500 cusecs of Cauvery water every day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, reaffirming the recommendation made earlier by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. The decision comes despite Karnataka’s appeal seeking a review of the earlier order.

The directive was issued after a crucial meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of S K Haldar. During the meeting, officials from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu presented their respective positions on the ongoing water sharing issue.

Karnataka had challenged the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, arguing that the state was facing a shortage of water in its reservoirs. The state government requested the authority to reconsider the direction in view of the prevailing storage levels and water availability.

Representing Karnataka at the meeting, Additional Chief Secretary of the Water Resources Department Gaurav Gupta explained the current reservoir situation and highlighted the challenges faced by the state due to limited water reserves. He urged the authority to take Karnataka’s concerns into account before issuing its final decision.

Tamil Nadu officials participated in the meeting through video conferencing and reiterated their demand for the release of Cauvery water as recommended by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. They argued that the prescribed water release was necessary to meet irrigation and agricultural requirements in the state.

After considering the submissions from both sides, the Cauvery Water Management Authority decided to uphold the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. It instructed Karnataka to comply with the order and ensure the release of 3500 cusecs of water daily for the next 15 days.

The decision is expected to have significant implications for both states, as the Cauvery river remains a lifeline for agriculture and drinking water needs in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Water sharing between the two states has remained a sensitive issue for decades, particularly during periods of low rainfall.

The latest order is likely to trigger further discussions within Karnataka, where concerns over reservoir storage and future water availability continue to dominate policy decisions. At the same time, Tamil Nadu has welcomed the continuation of the water release mechanism under the existing regulatory framework.

The Cauvery dispute remains one of India’s most closely watched interstate river water issues. With the authority reaffirming the earlier recommendation, attention will now shift to Karnataka’s implementation of the order and the overall water situation in the Cauvery basin over the coming weeks.