The Supreme Court has directed the Karnataka government to submit a detailed response within a week on Tamil Nadu’s petition seeking steps to make up an alleged 20 TMC shortfall in Cauvery water.
Tamil Nadu told the court that in a low-rainfall year, the state did not receive its due share on time, leading to irrigation stress and affecting Kuruvai cultivation. Senior advocate C.S. Vaidyanathan, appearing for Tamil Nadu, urged that the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) should issue appropriate directions to address the deficit.
According to Tamil Nadu’s submissions, the shortfall stands at 20 TMC, and the state argued that only proportionate releases would ensure its entitled share. It also alleged that despite adequate storage in Karnataka reservoirs in June, water was diverted to tanks and check dams to the extent of 19 TMC, reducing releases downstream.
Karnataka, represented by senior advocate Shyam Divan, opposed the plea, citing poor rainfall, drought declarations in several districts and severe water scarcity. The state maintained that it has been implementing CWMA directions, but said it was not in a position to release additional water as sought by Tamil Nadu.
After hearing both sides, the bench said CWMA must take a decision on the complaint regarding the shortfall, and asked Karnataka to file its reply within a week. The court also said it would not entertain intervention petitions by individuals or private bodies in the Cauvery water-sharing dispute, and adjourned the matter to October 12. The court was informed that CWMA had earlier confirmed the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recommendation to release 6,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, and that the committee reviews the water situation every 15 days.
