CWMA directs Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs to TN

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on Tuesday upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 6,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. The decision was taken at the 57th meeting of the CWMA held in Delhi under the chairmanship of SK Haldar. Officials from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, among others, participated in the meeting.

“Karnataka has released 33 TMC of Cauvery water towards Tamil Nadu’s Biligundlu border point so far in accordance with the directions issued by the CWMA and CWRC,” Cauvery Neeravari Nigama Limited Managing Director Mahesha told reporters after the meeting. He added that despite Karnataka being in a “distress situation”, the state has been following the orders of the CWMA and CWRC and there has been no violation so far. “If the situation were normal, it would be different. But now that we are in a distress situation, we have to follow the distress-sharing proportion as per the orders issued by the CWMA and CWRC. We have been following those orders so far and, accordingly, have released water,” Mahesha told reporters.

Earlier in the day, the CWRC had recommended that Karnataka release water to Tamil Nadu at a rate of 6,000 cusecs for the next 15 days. The recommendation was upheld by the CWMA later in the afternoon, Mahesha said.

“The people of Tamil Nadu are demanding nearly 20,000 cusecs. They made this demand at the meeting, but at the same time, the CWMA’s direction is restricted to 6,000 cusecs,” he added. This follows the CWMA’s earlier order on August 25 when, upholding the CWRC’s recommendation, it had directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

The meeting was held following the Supreme Court’s direction to the Tamil Nadu Government a day earlier to raise before the CWMA its grievance over the release of its proportionate share of Cauvery water by Karnataka.

At its 141st meeting on August 24, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release water from its reservoirs and ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs at the Biligundulu border point. The flow had to be maintained continuously for 15 days, during which Tamil Nadu was expected to receive approximately 11.66 TMC of water.

The release is expected to benefit Kuruvai cultivation and meet Tamil Nadu’s drinking water requirements.