NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on Monday the Tamil Nadu government’s plea seeking directions to Karnataka to immediately release its entitled share of Cauvery river water, the court’s cause list showed. The matter is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta for the August 17 sitting.
What Tamil Nadu has asked the court
Tamil Nadu moved the top court on August 3, asserting that it has not been receiving the water quota allocated to the State despite a rain‑deficient year. The petition contends that the quantity recommended by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the actual water supplied by Karnataka are both substantially lower than what Tamil Nadu requires.
At a CWRC meeting on July 28, Karnataka was directed to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29. Tamil Nadu, however, says the actual flow recorded at Biligundlu on the Karnataka–Tamil Nadu border ranged only between 158 and 550 cusecs for the period July 29 to August 2.
"Accordingly, the Cauvery Water Management Authority order allocating 4.536 TMC is very less," the Tamil Nadu government said in a statement.
State’s figures and contention
The Tamil Nadu government pointed to storage levels in Karnataka’s four reservoirs and argued the upstream state could have released more water without hardship. According to a Tamil Nadu release, combined storage in the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS), Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy reservoirs stood at 77.537 TMC as of August 3.
Tamil Nadu has contended that, following recent rainfall in the catchment areas of KRS and Kabini, the proportionate quantity due at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC. It has described the CWMA allocation of 4.536 TMC as insufficient in a distress year.
Timetable of key decisions and recorded flows
- July 28: CWRC directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days from July 29.
- July 29–Aug 2: Tamil Nadu recorded actual flows at Biligundlu between 158 and 550 cusecs.
- Aug 3: Tamil Nadu reported combined storage of 77.537 TMC in KRS, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy.
- Aug 17: Supreme Court hearing listed on Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking immediate release of due share.
Reservoir and flow snapshot
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Combined storage (KRS, Kabini, Harangi, Hemavathy) as of Aug 3 | 77.537 TMC |
| Quantity Tamil Nadu says due at Biligundlu | 26.954 TMC |
| CWMA allocation cited by Tamil Nadu | 4.536 TMC |
| CWRC direction (July 28) | 3,500 cusecs for 15 days from July 29 |
| Recorded flow at Biligundlu (Jul 29–Aug 2) | 158–550 cusecs |
Legal and political context
The petition comes amid renewed tensions between the two southern states over Cauvery sharing in a year described by Tamil Nadu as deficient in rainfall. The disputes commonly involve technical measurements at border gauging stations such as Biligundlu, orders from the CWRC and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), and interventions in the courts when states disagree on compliance.
The Supreme Court’s August 17 listing follows a previous indication by the court on August 12 that petitions by Tamil Nadu and others would be taken up on that date. The top court’s hearing will test the competing claims on prescribed releases, actual flows and the interpretation of CWRC/CWMA directives.
Implications for farmers and water management
Any judicial direction to Karnataka to augment releases would affect irrigation, drinking water planning and reservoir operations in both states. Tamil Nadu’s plea stresses immediate relief, citing shortfalls that it says have hampered water availability during the critical kharif season.
Officials in both state governments have, in past exchanges, stressed the need to balance upstream storage for local farming needs and downstream commitments. The Supreme Court hearing could also prompt technical examinations of gauge data, reservoir accounting and the methodology used to apportion inflows.
The case is likely to draw attention from farmer bodies, state water departments and political leaders as the court considers whether to issue interim directions ahead of a fuller adjudication.
Selvan Murugesan is the Tamil Nadu correspondent reporting from New Delhi.
