Karnataka refuses CWRC order to release 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu amid drought
Synopsis
Karnataka is refusing to release 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu as ordered by the CWRC, citing reservoirs at under half capacity, rainfall at just 63% of normal, and 71% of Cauvery basin taluks declared drought-hit. With the state already having exceeded its stipulated release quota since July, and legal consultations now underway, the Cauvery standoff is heading toward a fresh tribunal showdown.
Key Takeaways
Karnataka Water Resources Minister N.
Cheluvarayaswamy rejected the CWRC directive to release 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu on 24 September 2026 .
The four key reservoirs — KRS , Kabini , Hemavathi , and Harangi — hold only 49.775 TMC , or 47.60% of capacity.
Rainfall between 1 June and 22 September was just 63.18% of normal at 406.5 mm against a normal of 643.4 mm .
71% of taluks in the Cauvery basin, covering 75% of the area, have been declared drought-hit.
Karnataka exceeded its stipulated release quota between 29 July and 23 September , releasing 38.637 TMC — 2.219 TMC more than required.
The state is seeking a reduction to 3,000 cusecs and is consulting the Advocate General on legal options.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister N. Cheluvarayaswamy on Thursday, 24 September 2026, declared that the state cannot comply with the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directive to release 4,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, citing acute drought conditions, a severe rainfall deficit, and dwindling reservoir levels. The minister said the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the directive without adequately factoring in Karnataka's ground realities.
Karnataka's Case: Reservoirs Running Low
According to the state government, the four key reservoirs — KRS, Kabini, Hemavathi, and Harangi — together hold only 49.775 TMC of water, which is 47.60 per cent of their combined capacity. Against this, Karnataka says it needs 29 TMC for drinking water, 10 TMC for environmental flows, and 23.40 TMC for standing kharif crops — a total demand that already exceeds current storage.
Inflows into the reservoirs have declined sharply to around 2,200 cusecs. Rainfall between 1 June and 22 September stood at 406.5 mm against a normal of 643.4 mm, amounting to just 63.18 per cent of normal precipitation for the period.
Drought Declaration and El Niño Impact
Karnataka stated that 71 per cent of taluks in the Cauvery basin, covering 75 per cent of the basin area, have been officially declared drought-hit. The minister attributed the shortfall partly to the impact of a Super El Niño on the southwest monsoon, arguing that the hydrological reality makes a release of 4,000 cusecs untenable.
'In the midst of a Super El Niño and drought conditions, how is it possible to release water? Our neighbouring state Tamil Nadu should also understand this situation,' Cheluvarayaswamy said. He stressed that drinking water needs of Bengaluru and other Cauvery basin towns remain the government's foremost priority.
What Karnataka Has Already Released
The state pointed out that between 29 July and 23 September, it released 4,47,182 cusecs (equivalent to 38.637 TMC) at Biligundulu — exceeding the stipulated 4,21,500 cusecs by 25,682 cusecs (2.219 TMC). Karnataka argued this demonstrates good faith compliance, even as its own water situation has deteriorated since.
Karnataka's Counter-Proposal and Tamil Nadu's Reservoir Position
The state has requested that the stipulated release be reduced to 3,000 cusecs, noting that 2,500 cusecs would flow naturally downstream in any case. Karnataka also cited forecasts of heavy rainfall in Tamil Nadu during the northeast monsoon season, and argued that Tamil Nadu's reservoirs currently hold 52.177 TMC — placing it in a 'comfortable position' without further releases from Karnataka.
Legal Options and Next Steps
Minister Cheluvarayaswamy said Karnataka intends to present its concerns before the tribunal and is consulting legal experts, including the Advocate General, on the next course of action. The dispute is part of a long-running inter-state water-sharing conflict that has repeatedly tested the Cauvery institutional framework, and this latest standoff is expected to intensify ahead of the tribunal's next hearing.
Point of View
But this year's standoff carries unusual weight: Karnataka's numbers — reservoirs below half capacity, rainfall at 63% of normal, 71% of basin taluks drought-hit — are harder to dismiss than the rhetorical positions that typically define these exchanges. The CWMA's decision to uphold the CWRC directive without engaging Karnataka's data is the kind of institutional rigidity that erodes trust in inter-state water governance. Notably, Karnataka has already released more than its stipulated quota since July, which complicates any narrative of bad faith. The real structural gap is the absence of a dynamic release formula that adjusts to real-time hydrological conditions — without that, every monsoon failure will produce the same diplomatic and legal crisis.
NationPress
25 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Karnataka refusing to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu?
Karnataka says it cannot comply with the CWRC directive because its major reservoirs hold only 47.60% of capacity and rainfall between June and September was just 63.18% of normal. The state argues it must prioritise drinking water for Bengaluru and Cauvery basin towns.
What is the current water level in Karnataka's Cauvery reservoirs?
The four key reservoirs — KRS, Kabini, Hemavathi, and Harangi — together hold 49.775 TMC, which is 47.60% of their combined capacity. Inflows have dropped to around 2,200 cusecs amid a rainfall deficit.
How much water has Karnataka already released this season?
Between 29 July and 23 September, Karnataka released 4,47,182 cusecs (38.637 TMC) at Biligundulu — exceeding the stipulated 4,21,500 cusecs by 25,682 cusecs (2.219 TMC).
What is Karnataka asking for instead of the 4,000-cusec order?
Karnataka has requested that the stipulated release be reduced to 3,000 cusecs, noting that 2,500 cusecs would flow naturally downstream. It also wants authorities to account for expected northeast monsoon rains in Tamil Nadu.
What are Karnataka's next legal steps in the Cauvery dispute?
The state government plans to present its concerns before the tribunal and is consulting legal experts, including the Advocate General, on the next course of action. A formal legal challenge is being considered.
