The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the recent decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), instructing Karnataka to continue releasing 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu until October 15. Additionally, Karnataka was directed to address the shortfall of 0.71 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) that occurred during the preceding 15-day period ending on September 27. The CWRC reached this decision during its meeting on September 26, where representatives from basin States engaged in discussions through videoconferencing, with Tamil Nadu's participation online and the Cauvery Technical Cell's chairperson present in person in New Delhi, as reported by The Hindu.
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During the meeting, a vigorous exchange of views took place between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. While Tamil Nadu advocated for a continuous release of 12,500 cusecs, Karnataka highlighted challenges in maintaining the supply, citing dependence on the southwest monsoon, which was erratic this year. In contrast, Tamil Nadu could rely on the upcoming northeast monsoon expected in the third or fourth week of October.
According to Central Water Commission data up to September 26, this year's realization of Cauvery water at Biligundulu was 11.8 tmc ft, with a total of 43.73 tmc ft since June 1. Despite normal expectations of nearly 75 tmc ft by this time in a regular year, the Mettur dam's current storage stood at about 11 tmc ft, with an inflow of around 5,300 cusecs and a discharge of about 6,500 cusecs.
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Karnataka's four reservoirs in the Cauvery basin collectively held a gross storage of 59.65 tmc ft. Following CWMA's recent directive, Karnataka is obligated to release a total of 5.38 tmc ft by October 15. Notably, there was no discussion during the meeting regarding the formation of a fact-finding committee to assess the distress level in the Cauvery basin, as confirmed by CWMA Chairman Saumitra Kumar Haldar.
Haldar indicated that such a proposal was not under consideration, reminiscent of the High-Level Technical Team formed by the Union government on October 4, 2016. This earlier committee, comprising representatives from the Central Water Commission and basin States, including Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, undertook field visits and submitted a report on October 17, 2016, without specifying the quantity of water Karnataka should release to Tamil Nadu. The committee emphasized the need for mutual consideration between the two states in addressing irrigation and developmental aspirations.
