Cauvery Panel Directs Karnataka to Release 3,000 Cusecs to Tamil Nadu

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee has directed Karnataka to release water at the rate of 3,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days starting October 24. The Cauvery Water Management Authority endorsed this decision at its meeting.

State Arguments

Tamil Nadu had sought a much higher release of 18.402 tmcft over the 15-day period, which included a claimed backlog of 13.829 tmcft, working out to 14,236 cusecs a day. Tamil Nadu argued that inadequate flows had hurt delta farmers and that storage at the Mettur reservoir stood at 20.887 tmcft. Karnataka opposed the demand by pointing out that inflows into its four Cauvery basin reservoirs suffered a 55.35% deficit this year, receiving 122.293 tmcft against the 30-year average of 273.865 tmcft due to poor rainfall. Karnataka also stated that 226 of its 240 taluks are declared drought-affected, leaving only about 12 tmcft after meeting essential drinking water and priority needs from its 46.510 tmcft live storage.

Context

Water-sharing disputes between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu along the Cauvery river basin typically flare up during years with poor monsoon rains and low reservoir levels. Regulatory panels like the CWRC and CWMA exist to adjudicate these competing demands for drinking water and farming needs based on available basin storage.