Ensure 5,000 cusecs to TN, CWMA directs Karnataka

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC)’s order and directed the Karnataka government to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu till 28 September.The CWMA issued the directive after a meeting held to review the CWRC recommendations in Delhi on Monday, 18 September. Officials and legal teams of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu attended the meeting.On 12 September, the CWRC directed Karnataka to ensure 5,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from 13 September.After hearing the submissions of both states, the CWMA upheld the recommendations of the CWRC and ordered Karnataka to ensure 5,000 cusecs of water is released at Biligundlu for the next 15 days.

Karnataka has to ensure 5,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu for the next 15 days as indicated by CWRC (effective from 13th Sep 2023 for 15 days): CWMA( Cauvery Water Management Authority) pic.twitter.com/d4vsZJPW9D

— ANI (@ANI) September 18, 2023

However, the Karnataka government refused to release water to Tamil Nadu, saying that the state was reeling under severe drought and lack of water in the four reservoirs in the Cauvery river basin.Chief Minister Siddaramaiah also wrote a letter to the Union Minister for Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, saying, “Karnataka is not in a position to release water” to the neighbouring state from 13 September.Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar, who holds the Water Resources portfolio, told reporters on Monday that the government would move the Supreme Court against the CWRC directive. He also appealed to the officials of the authority to visit the Cauvery river basin.