Karnataka asks CWMA to halve Cauvery release to TN amid drought
Synopsis
With only 49 TMC of water left in its four key reservoirs, 47 taluks already drought-declared, and the southwest monsoon gone, Karnataka has asked the CWMA to halve its court-mandated Cauvery release to Tamil Nadu — pointing out that the northeast monsoon is expected to replenish Tamil Nadu's own catchments soon.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka on 2 October 2026 formally requested the CWMA to reduce its mandated Cauvery release at Biligundlu from 4,000 cusecs to 2,000 cusecs per day.
The CWMA had directed the 4,000 cusecs release at its 58th meeting on 24 September 2026 , to run for 15 days .
Combined usable water in the KRS, Hemavathi, Harangi and Kabini reservoirs stands at just 49 TMC .
47 taluks in the Cauvery basin have been declared drought-hit; the southwest monsoon has fully withdrawn from Karnataka.
From 1 June to 30 September , 44.21 TMC was recorded at Biligundlu, according to Water Resources Minister N.
The state cited a forecast of a normal-to-above-normal northeast monsoon for Tamil Nadu as grounds for reducing the mandated outflow.
The Karnataka government on Friday, 2 October 2026, formally urged the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to reconsider its order directing the state to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu, citing severe drought conditions across the basin and critically depleted reservoir levels. The state has specifically requested a reduction to 2,000 cusecs per day.
What Karnataka Told the CWMA
Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy confirmed that Karnataka submitted an official request to the CWMA seeking a review of the decision taken at the authority's 58th meeting on 24 September 2026, at which the CWMA had directed Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu for 15 days.
The Minister stated that the southwest monsoon had completely withdrawn from Karnataka and that inflows into the four key reservoirs — Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS), Hemavathi, Harangi, and Kabini — had declined sharply. 'The total water available for use in these four reservoirs is currently only 49 TMC. Karnataka has to preserve this water very carefully to meet the state's drinking water requirements, protect the environment and compensate for evaporation losses until June 2027,' Cheluvarayaswamy said.
Scale of the Drought
Around 47 taluks in the Cauvery basin have already been declared drought-hit, according to the Minister, with the entire basin facing severe drought conditions. He added that from 1 June to 30 September, a total of 44.21 TMC of water was recorded at Biligundlu — underscoring how constrained Karnataka's position is heading into the lean season.
This comes amid a broader pattern of annual Cauvery disputes that have historically intensified during below-average monsoon years, with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu regularly presenting competing claims over available flows before the CWMA and, when necessary, the Supreme Court.
Karnataka's Compliance Record and the Northeast Monsoon Factor
Despite the shortage, the state government stressed that it had 'strictly complied with all directions issued by the CWMA during the current water year.' The Minister also pointed to meteorological forecasts indicating that the northeast monsoon — which typically benefits Tamil Nadu — was expected to be normal or above normal this season, increasing the likelihood of higher inflows into the neighbouring state.
'Considering all these facts, Karnataka is in a difficult situation where it is not possible to release a substantial quantity of water from the KRS and Kabini reservoirs,' Cheluvarayaswamy said.
What Karnataka Is Asking For
The state has formally requested the CWMA to reduce the mandated daily release at Biligundlu from 4,000 cusecs to 2,000 cusecs. Cheluvarayaswamy described the reduction as 'necessary in view of the severe drought situation in the Cauvery basin and the limited water available in Karnataka's reservoirs.'
The CWMA's response to Karnataka's request is now awaited, and its decision is likely to determine whether the dispute escalates to a higher adjudicatory forum. Tamil Nadu's position on the review request has not yet been made public.
Point of View
And that framing matters. The CWMA has repeatedly been caught between two states with legitimate but competing claims, and its decisions in lean years have rarely satisfied either. What is notable here is Karnataka's use of the northeast monsoon forecast as a proactive counter-argument: if Tamil Nadu's own catchments are about to receive above-normal rainfall, the downstream urgency for Karnataka's releases weakens considerably. The real test is whether the CWMA treats this as a one-off humanitarian adjustment or whether it sets a precedent that makes the annual release schedule more flexible — and therefore more litigable.
NationPress
2 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnataka asking the CWMA to reduce Cauvery water release to Tamil Nadu?
Karnataka says severe drought conditions have left just 49 TMC of usable water across its four key Cauvery reservoirs — KRS, Hemavathi, Harangi, and Kabini — and that 47 taluks in the basin are already officially drought-declared. The state needs to conserve this water for drinking purposes until June 2027 and has therefore asked the CWMA to halve the mandated daily release at Biligundlu from 4,000 cusecs to 2,000 cusecs.
What did the CWMA direct at its 58th meeting?
At its 58th meeting on 24 September 2026, the CWMA directed Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu for a period of 15 days. Karnataka has now formally requested a review of that directive.
How much Cauvery water has Karnataka already released this year?
According to Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy, a total of 44.21 TMC of water was recorded at Biligundlu between 1 June and 30 September 2026. The Minister stated that Karnataka had strictly complied with all CWMA directions during the current water year despite the drought.
What is the northeast monsoon argument Karnataka is making?
Karnataka argues that the northeast monsoon — which predominantly benefits Tamil Nadu — is forecast to be normal or above normal this season, meaning Tamil Nadu is likely to receive increased rainfall and higher inflows into its own catchments. The state says this makes a reduction in Karnataka's mandated releases justifiable at this time.
What happens next in the Cauvery water dispute?
The CWMA must now respond to Karnataka's review request. If it upholds the original 4,000 cusecs directive, Karnataka may escalate the matter further. Tamil Nadu's official response to Karnataka's appeal has not yet been reported, and that stance will be a key variable in how the authority rules.
