Cauvery authority directs Karnataka to release 2,300 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till Nov 15

In the meeting of the Cauvery Water Control Committee held in the national capital, the Karnataka government made the submission requesting to report to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), that in the light of “almost nil” inflows into the four reservoirs so as to reach Biligundlu (on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border) except that which will be contributed from the uncontrolled catchment.

The Tamil Nadu government, on the other hand, demanded its Karnataka counterpart to ensure the release of 13,000 cusecs of water every day for the next 15 days. Meanwhile, Karnataka had been releasing 3,000 of Cauvery water every day for the last 15 days.

Earlier this month, at the CWRC meeting, the Karnataka government was directed to ensure the release of 3,000 cusecs of water daily from the Cauvery between October 16 and October 31. In September this year, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee ordered Karnataka to ensure the release of 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water at Biligundlu starting from September 28 till October 15, 2023.

Karnataka filed a review petition against the order both in the Supreme Court and in the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). Karnataka government had cited a severe drought in parts of its state to refuse the supply of water to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, on October 5, said that cumulative inflows into the reservoirs in Karnataka’s Cauvery basin are decreasing.

The governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have been locked in a protracted tussle over the sharing of Cauvery waters. The river is seen as a major source of sustenance for the people in either state. The Centre formed the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) on June 2, 1990, to adjudicate disputes between Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Puducherry with respect to their individual water-sharing capacities. (ANI)