SC was hearing Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking implementation of the CWMA’s directions on the release of Cauvery water by Karnataka.
| Photo Credit: Murali Kumar K
The Karnataka government on Monday (August 31, 2026) told the Supreme Court that it was complying with the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
On August 25, the CWMA had upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Appearing for Karnataka, senior advocate Shyam Divan said the State had released 9,888 cusecs on August 30, against the required 9,000 cusecs, while the flow had crossed 11,000 cusecs by Monday (August 31, 2026) morning.
“We have released an excess amount as of 8 a.m. this morning,” Mr. Divan said, adding that Karnataka would endeavour to maintain the required flow of 9,000 cusecs.
The top court was hearing Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking implementation of the CWMA’s directions on the release of Cauvery water by Karnataka. In an application filed on Sunday, Tamil Nadu had sought a direction to Karnataka to release 17.604 tmc ft of water, which it claimed was the balance due as of August 27 under the pro-rata formula.
‘Clear backlog’
On Monday, senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, contended that Karnataka’s present compliance with the 9,000-cusec requirement did not address the accumulated shortfall in earlier releases. He submitted that nearly 24,700 acres of agricultural land in Tamil Nadu depended on Cauvery water and pointed to a substantial deficit in the flows recorded at Biligundlu, a riverside village on the border between the two States.
“There is a shortfall in Biligundlu… I have come before my Lords. There is no other forum. There should be some consideration as to why my backlog should not be cleared,” Mr. Vaidyanathan submitted, urging that Tamil Nadu’s demand for clearing the accumulated deficit be reconsidered.
He further informed the Bench that Tamil Nadu had sought a direction from the CWRC and CWMA requiring Karnataka to release 1.9 TMC of water per day from August 24 to September 7 so that the accumulated deficit under the pro-rata formula could also be cleared. The CWMA, however, affirmed the CWRC’s recommendation and directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs per day from August 25 to September 8, without issuing any direction on the accumulated shortfall.
“However, CWMA, without considering the purport of the scheme framed under Section 6A of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, which mandates pro-rata releases in the distress years, scrupulously failed to take any steps to direct Karnataka to make good the same. CWMA mechanically affirmed the recommendation of CWRC and directed Karnataka to ensure only 9,000 cusecs per day from August 25 to September 8,” the Tamil Nadu affidavit said.
‘Challenge CWMA decision’
The Bench pointed out that if Tamil Nadu sought water over and above what the CWMA had directed, the authority’s decision would have to be challenged before the appropriate forum.
“You want water. They [Karnataka] are releasing. The decision of CWMA has to be challenged,” the Bench told Mr. Vaidyanathan.
Mr. Vaidyanathan informed the court that Tamil Nadu had already sought a review of the decision before the CWMA on August 27 and urged that the authority be directed to reconsider the State’s request.
Taking note of the fact that the issue was already under consideration by the statutory authorities, the Bench observed that the CWRC was meeting every 15 days and passing orders after hearing the parties.
“The next order of the CWMA may also be passed in a similar manner after taking into consideration the parties’ submissions,” the Bench said.
It accordingly directed both States to place subsequent developments on record and posted the matter for further hearing on September 15.
Published – August 31, 2026 11:17 pm IST
