TN moves top court to enforce Cauvery water release order

The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court, seeking immediate directions for Karnataka to release Cauvery water as per a July 30 decision by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). The state wants Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water per day for 15 days from the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs.

Tamil Nadu contends that Karnataka has "wilfully" disregarded directives from the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC). This is despite recent rainfall improving water storage levels in the Cauvery catchment areas. The application seeks compliance with the release of 4.536 TMC of water by August 12, and also asks Karnataka to compensate for the accumulated shortfall in releases from June 1 to August 12.

The state argues that even with full compliance of the CWMA's current directive, it would receive insufficient water. It highlights that Karnataka's reservoirs hold substantial water, with gross storage of 77.537 TMC across four principal reservoirs as of August 3. This storage, boosted by recent heavy rainfall, demonstrates Karnataka's capacity to meet the release obligations.

Tamil Nadu further points out that actual water flows recorded at the inter-state border point of Billigundulu between July 29 and August 2 were significantly lower than the mandated 3,500 cusecs, ranging only between 158 and 530 cusecs. This disparity, the state argues, proves Karnataka's non-compliance.