Pursuant to the CWMA order on the release of Cauvery water, Karnataka told the Supreme Court

The SC heard a plea by Tamil Nadu seeking implementation of the CWMA guidelines 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 is complying with the Cauvery Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) guidelines to ensure the flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.

On August 25, the CWMA upheld the recommendation of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), which directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.

Speaking in 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 till Monday (August 31, 2026) morning had crossed 11,000 cusecs.

“We have released the excess at 8 am this morning,” Mr. Divan said, adding that Karnataka will try to maintain the required flow of 9,000 cusecs.

The Supreme Court was hearing a plea by Tamil Nadu seeking implementation of the CWMA guidelines on the release of Cauvery water by Karnataka. In a request filed on Sunday, Tamil Nadu sought a direction to Karnataka to release 17,604 tmc ft of water, which it claimed was the balance due on August 27 under the pro rata formula.

‘Clear pending items’

On Monday, senior advocate CS Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, argued that Karnataka’s current compliance with the 9,000 cusec requirement does not address the accumulated shortfall in earlier versions. He said that nearly 24,700 acres of agricultural land in Tamil Nadu depends on Cauvery water and pointed to a significant deficit in flows recorded in Biligundl, a riverside village on the border between the two states.

“There is a shortage in Biligundl… I have come before my Lords. There is no other forum. It should be considered why my backlog should not be cleared,” Mr Vaidyanathan said, urging a reconsideration of Tamil Nadu’s demand to clear the accumulated deficit.

It further informed the Bench that Tamil Nadu had sought a direction from the CWRC and CWMA demanding that Karnataka release 1.9 TMC of water daily from August 24 to September 7 so that the accumulated deficit under the pro rata formula could also be cleared. However, the CWMA upheld 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 regarding the accumulated shortfall.

“However, the CWMA, without considering the purport of the scheme laid down under Section 6A of the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956, which mandates pro-rata release in years of distress, scrupulously took no steps to direct Karnataka to rectify the same. The CWMA mechanically upheld the recommendations of the CWRC only from 0 August 25 to 8 September,” Tamil Nadu’s affidavit said.

‘CWMA Decision Challenge’

The bench pointed out that if Tamil Nadu sought water beyond what was mandated by the CWMA, the authority’s decision would have to be challenged before the appropriate forum.

“You want water. They (Karnataka) are releasing. CWMA’s decision must be challenged,” the Bench told Mr Vaidyanathan.

Mr. Vaidyanathan informed the court that Tamil Nadu had already sought a review of the decision with the CWMA on August 27 and urged that the authority be directed to reconsider the state’s application.

Taking note of the fact that the matter was already considered by the statutory authorities, the Bench observed that the CWRC meets every 15 days and passes orders after hearing the parties.

“The next order of the CWMA may also be passed in a similar manner after considering the submissions of the parties,” the Bench said.

Accordingly, it directed both the states to record subsequent developments and posted the matter for further hearing on September 15.

Published – 31 Aug 2026 23:17 IST