AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Monday, 20 July demanded that the Tamil Nadu government take decisive action at the upcoming Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) meeting to secure the state's full share of Cauvery water, accusing the ruling dispensation of failing farmers and surrendering the state's water rights. The CWMA is scheduled to convene on 22 July.

The Water Deficit at the Centre of the Row

Palaniswami pointed to a stark shortfall in releases from Karnataka. Against an annual obligation of 177.25 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft), Karnataka released only 2.91 tmc ft of the 9.19 tmc ft due in June — a deficit of more than 6 tmc ft in a single month. Additionally, around 31.24 tmc ft was scheduled for release in July, with both the June shortfall and July allocation reportedly still largely pending.

The AIADMK leader noted that livelihoods of farmers in the Cauvery delta and the drinking water needs of people across more than 20 districts of Tamil Nadu depend critically on the river's flow.

Supreme Court Orders and Alleged Non-Compliance

Palaniswami underscored that the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee were constituted under directions of the Supreme Court specifically to enforce monthly water releases from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu. He alleged that despite the authority directing Karnataka last month to release its monthly allocation, neither the CWMA enforced the order nor did the Tamil Nadu government press for compliance.

He further criticised remarks attributed to former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who reportedly stated that water would be released only after Karnataka's reservoirs were filled. Palaniswami termed this position contrary to the Supreme Court verdict and the established inter-state water-sharing framework, arguing it undermined the rule of law.

Kuruvai Cultivation at Risk

The AIADMK chief warned that continued delays in water releases would severely impact kuruvai cultivation — the short-duration paddy crop sown in the delta during June-July — threatening the livelihoods of thousands of farming families and agricultural workers. Kuruvai cultivation is time-sensitive and depends heavily on timely Cauvery inflows; any prolonged shortfall can result in crop failure across large swathes of the delta.

Political Broadside at the Ruling Government

Beyond the water dispute, Palaniswami also accused the Tamil Nadu government of diluting its election promise on cooperative farm loan waivers, alleging that the relief announced after assuming office was limited in scope and left many farmers dissatisfied. He characterised the government's failure to press Karnataka for pending Cauvery releases as a betrayal of delta farmers.

With the 22 July CWMA meeting days away, Palaniswami called on the state government to exert strong pressure to ensure Tamil Nadu receives its full Cauvery allocation for both June and July without further delay.