Cauvery water dispute: Karnataka directed to release 12,000 cusecs daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi/Bengaluru, Aug 12, 2026: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from Wednesday, prompting the Karnataka government to explore legal options to challenge the order.

The decision was taken at a CWRC meeting chaired by Vineet Gupta. On the same day, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), the appellate body, also met under S K Haldar and directed Karnataka to ensure compliance with the water release.

A Karnataka government official termed it unusual for both meetings to be held on the same day, noting that the CWMA normally meets a day or two after the CWRC, giving basin states an opportunity to appeal against its directions.

The order has triggered protests by farmers in Karnataka. Chief Minister D K Shivakumar appealed to farmers to remain patient, saying the government would decide its next course of action after reviewing the water situation.

“I am monitoring the inflows. I have to protect our farmers. At the same time, we must comply with the court directions,” Shivakumar said.

Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy said a meeting would be held on Wednesday with Shivakumar, senior lawyers and officials to discuss the matter and determine the next course of action.

Karnataka Additional Chief Secretary Gaurav Gupta said the state was examining all available legal options, including approaching the Supreme Court.

Gupta, who attended the CWMA meeting, said Karnataka expected its appeal against the latest direction to be considered by the Supreme Court along with another pending Cauvery-related matter scheduled for hearing on August 13.

On whether Karnataka had been treated unfairly by the CWMA, Gupta said the situation remained “very dynamic” and warned that managing the water situation could become challenging in the coming days.

“Although prima facie we said that we had been treated unfairly, subsequently, when there was more rainfall in the Cauvery basin, we were able to manage the situation,” Gupta said.

Under the latest order, Karnataka has been directed to ensure a daily release of 12,000 cusecs, equivalent to around 1.03 TMC, from its Cauvery basin reservoirs from August 12 for 15 days. The total quantum works out to 15.53 TMC at Biligundlu, the interstate water measurement point.

Earlier, on July 28, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days starting July 29.