Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss on Thursday, 23 July escalated pressure on the Centre over the long-running Cauvery water-sharing dispute, accusing the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) of failing to compel Karnataka to release Tamil Nadu's legally mandated share of water during a critical agricultural window.

What the CWMA Decided

According to Anbumani, the CWMA accepted Karnataka's argument that water currently stored in its reservoirs was sufficient only to meet Bengaluru's drinking water requirements. On that basis, the authority declined Tamil Nadu's request for an immediate release to protect standing kuruvai crops in the Cauvery delta — a decision the PMK leader described as a direct failure of institutional duty.

The Shortfall in Numbers

Anbumani stated that Karnataka has released only 3.44 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) of water to Tamil Nadu since June, against a mandated allocation of 28.30 tmc ft — a shortfall of nearly 25 tmc ft during a season when delta farmers depend on timely Cauvery flows for paddy transplantation. He disputed Karnataka's claim of inadequate storage, asserting that the neighbouring state's reservoirs held sufficient water to meet both its own drinking water needs and Tamil Nadu's allocated share simultaneously.

PMK's Case Against the CWMA

The PMK president argued that the CWMA's structural limitations are at the root of the recurring crisis. The authority, he said, lacks statutory powers to compel states to implement its directions or to initiate punitive action in the event of non-compliance. He accused Karnataka of repeatedly violating the agreed water-sharing schedule while the CWMA stood by without enforcement recourse.

Demand for a Cauvery Management Board

Calling for structural reform, Anbumani urged the Union government to replace the CWMA with a fully empowered Cauvery Management Board — the body originally envisaged by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal — vested with authority to regulate reservoir operations and oversee water releases in strict accordance with the tribunal's award. He also appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to sustain pressure on the Centre and, if necessary, approach the Supreme Court to secure the state's legitimate water entitlement.

What Happens Next

With kuruvai cultivation already under stress and the delta farming community facing potential crop losses, the dispute is likely to intensify in the weeks ahead. The PMK's call for Supreme Court intervention, if acted upon by the state government, could push the Cauvery standoff back into judicial territory — a path Tamil Nadu has taken before when inter-state negotiations stalled.