Cauvery issue: Karnataka suffers another setback – CWMA asks state to release 5,000 cusecs daily to TN

New Delhi: Karnataka suffered another setback on Monday as the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) rejected the state’s submission that it was unable to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. CWMA directed the state government to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water every day to Tamil Nadu.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on September 12 recommended Karnataka government to release 5,000 cusecs daily for for 15 days. At today’s meeting, the Karnataka government has been directed to comply with this.

Karnataka had expressed its inability to release water to TN citing the increased severity of drought-like conditions in the Cauvery catchment area and the need for drinking water as well as water needed to save standing crops in the state. It told the CWMA its inability to supply water to the lower riparian state until inflow improves.

In return, Tamil Nadu had demanded the release of 12,500 cusecs (including the pending 6,500 cusecs) of Cauvery water for the next 15 days.

The next meeting of the CWRC is scheduled to be held on September 26.