PTI
New Delhi/Karnataka
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Thursday rejected the Karnataka government’s plea and upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) recommendation ordering the release of 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, prompting the state government to convene an all-party meeting as political parties, farmers and Kannada organisations closed ranks against the order.
The decision came despite Karnataka’s contention that it is facing acute drought and a drinking water crisis.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar convened an all-party meeting on August 2 to deliberate on the issue and chart the state’s future course of action after the CWMA affirmed the CWRC’s July 28 recommendation.
The Chief Minister’s Office said, “The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), at its meeting held today, has affirmed and endorsed the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on 28.07.2026, directing Karnataka to ensure a daily flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for a period of 15 days.”
According to a note issued by the CMO, Karnataka had urged the CWMA to keep in abeyance for another fortnight the CWRC’s direction to release 3,500 cusecs of water to TN, citing severe hydrological distress caused by deficient inflows.
The state told the authority that inflows into its reservoirs were 65.65% below the 30-year average due to the Super El Nino and sought a review after assessing the evolving hydrological situation.
Karnataka also argued that Tamil Nadu enjoyed a ‘dual advantage’ as it would benefit from both releases from Karnataka and the forthcoming North-East Monsoon, while also having substantial carryover storage from earlier releases.
It further said that ensuring 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu would require releasing nearly 7,000 cusecs because of dry river conditions and transmission losses, and stressed the need to conserve about 40 TMC of water to meet drinking water requirements till June 2027.
Tamil Nadu, however, urged the CWMA to direct Karnataka to enhance the daily release beyond 3,500 cusecs, contending that the prevailing hydrological distress warranted a higher quantum of release.
Earlier, Minister Ramalinga Reddy said: “The Cauvery Water Management Authority has upheld Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s order.”
Addressing reporters in New Delhi, Shivakumar said, “An all-party meeting regarding the Cauvery water issue has been convened this Sunday (August 2) at my home office ‘Krishna.’”
He said former chief ministers, MPs and MLAs from the Cauvery basin have been invited. “We have discussed this issue with MPs and Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, V Somanna, MPs Jagadish Shettar, and Basavaraj Bommai, and they are making utmost efforts for the welfare of the state,” he said.
Asked about TN Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay being advised to approach the Union government instead of Karnataka, Shivakumar said, “I will not comment on that matter. We have no interest in fighting with each other. There is a law of the land. We must respect one another. The entire country must work together.”
