Karnataka Releases Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu Amid Rainfall and Drought Concerns

Karnataka began releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu after heavy rainfall in Kerala's Wayanad district sharply increased inflows into the Kabini reservoir, easing pressure on the state's water resources.

The release comes days after the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) directive asking Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to TN for 15 days. The order had triggered protests across Karnataka, prompting the state government to convene an all-party meeting to chalk out its response.

"Our dams were not full and there was no rain. The situation has improved after recent rainfall and Kabini is now full," Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said after the all-party meeting in Bengaluru.

The CM said reservoir inflows had improved over the past few days, with about 24,000 cusecs flowing into the Cauvery reservoirs, including about 22,000 cusecs into the KRS dam. However, rainfall eased since Saturday afternoon and inflows into Kabini were about 11,000 cusecs.

Karnataka has received only about 35% of its normal rainfall so far this monsoon, he said, cautioning that the threat of drought had not receded.

The CM said Karnataka had released only about 2.3 tmc ft of water in June and about 3.6 tmc ft in July this year, compared with about 19.9 tmc ft and 31 tmc ft, respectively, during the corresponding months last year.

"Against the expected release of about 40 tmc by the end of July, we were able to release only about 3.6 tmc because of the severe shortage," he said.

Appealing for restraint, the CM urged Kannada organisations and political parties, including the BJP and JD(S), to withdraw plans for a statewide bandh.

"We took this view unanimously at the all-party meeting. There is no need for a bandh," he said.

The CM added that the government would assess the rainfall situation through August before issuing district-wise advisories to farmers on crop planning.

The CM reiterated Karnataka's position on the long-pending Mekedatu balancing reservoir project and said it offered the most durable solution to the recurring Cauvery dispute.

"This is not about Karnataka getting less or TN getting more. It is an opportunity for both states to sit together and resolve the issue amicably." The proposed allocation of 9 tmc ft has been earmarked exclusively for drinking water to avoid future disputes over its use.