Cauvery crisis: Karnataka CM Shivakumar says releasing 4,000 cusecs to TN difficult
Synopsis
Karnataka CM D.K. Shivakumar has declared a water crisis and said the state will appeal against the CWRC's order to release 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days — the second such pushback this month. With reservoir inflows stopped and drought gripping the Cauvery basin, the inter-state standoff is entering its most acute phase of 2026.
Key Takeaways
CWRC has directed Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days .
Shivakumar called the situation a 'crisis' and indicated compliance would be difficult, citing stopped inflows and declining rainfall.
Karnataka will file a formal appeal against the CWRC direction; water release is conditional on availability.
Water Resources Minister N.
Chaluvarayaswamy is reviewing the situation before the government announces its next step.
Earlier in September 2026 , the CWMA had upheld a separate order for 6,000 cusecs for 15 days, which Karnataka also contested.
Karnataka is simultaneously seeking Centre's advance release of the State Disaster Response Fund to address a broader drought emergency.
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday, 24 September said his state was in a water crisis and indicated that complying with the latest Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) order — directing Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days — would be extremely difficult. Speaking to reporters in Chitradurga, the Chief Minister said the state government was examining the situation and would formally challenge the direction.
What the CWRC Ordered
The CWRC has directed Karnataka to ensure a release of 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for a period of 15 days. This latest order follows an earlier direction in September — upheld by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) — requiring Karnataka to ensure a flow of 6,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, which had already prompted the state to consider legal action. The back-to-back directives have sharpened the inter-state dispute at a time when both states are grappling with deficient rainfall.
What Karnataka's Chief Minister Said
'I am getting information regarding the order to release Cauvery water by the CWRC. It is difficult to release water to Tamil Nadu as there is a crisis situation in the state regarding water,' CM Shivakumar told reporters. He confirmed the state would file an appeal while leaving the door open for compliance if conditions improved. 'We are filing an appeal. If there is water availability, we will release water,' he said. The Chief Minister added that inflows into Karnataka's reservoirs in the Cauvery catchment area had stopped and rainfall had declined sharply. 'The inflow to state reservoirs in the Cauvery catchment area has stopped. There is pressure on us. The rain has stopped. I will verify this in the evening,' he said.
Water Resources Minister in the Picture
CM Shivakumar said Water Resources Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy was accompanying him during the visit to Chitradurga and that a detailed review of the situation would precede any formal announcement. 'I have the Water Resources Minister along with me. What I can do in this situation, I will convey later,' the Chief Minister said. This signals that Karnataka's final response — including the appeal — is still being calibrated at the highest levels of the state government.
Broader Drought Crisis in Karnataka
The Cauvery standoff is unfolding against the backdrop of a wider drought emergency in Karnataka. The state government has been seeking financial assistance from the Centre for drought relief, and CM Shivakumar has formally requested the advance release of the Centre's share of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) to support drought-affected farmers and families. Karnataka has repeatedly told Cauvery water management authorities that a substantial portion of the Cauvery basin is facing drought conditions and that available reservoir storage must be prioritised for drinking water and other essential needs.
What Happens Next
Karnataka is expected to file a formal appeal against the CWRC order in the coming days, with Water Resources Minister Chaluvarayaswamy likely to lead the legal and administrative response. The state's ability to deflect or delay the order will depend on current reservoir levels and the pace of any late-season rainfall in the Cauvery catchment. Notably, this is at least the second time in September 2026 that Karnataka has pushed back against a Cauvery release direction — a pattern that underscores how the inter-state dispute is intensifying as both states enter a period of acute water scarcity.
Point of View
But the 2026 edition carries a harder edge: Karnataka is contesting not one but two CWRC directives within the same month, and doing so while simultaneously invoking a drought emergency to seek Central relief funds. That dual posture — crying crisis to the Centre for money while using the same crisis to deflect water releases to Tamil Nadu — is politically coherent but legally risky. The CWMA and CWRC are statutory bodies, and repeated non-compliance raises the prospect of contempt proceedings. More structurally, neither state has invested adequately in demand-side water management, leaving both dependent on monsoon variability and inter-state negotiations that grow more fraught with every deficient season.
NationPress
24 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has the CWRC ordered Karnataka to do?
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days. This follows an earlier September order — upheld by the CWMA — for 6,000 cusecs for 15 days, which Karnataka also contested.
Why is Karnataka refusing to release Cauvery water?
Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar cited a 'crisis situation' in the state, pointing to stopped inflows into Cauvery basin reservoirs and declining rainfall. The state says available storage must be prioritised for drinking water and essential needs before any inter-state release.
What legal action is Karnataka planning?
Karnataka has confirmed it will file a formal appeal against the CWRC's 4,000-cusec direction. The appeal is being prepared with Water Resources Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy overseeing the process; a detailed announcement is expected after the minister reviews reservoir data.
How does the current dispute compare to recent months?
This is at least the second Cauvery release directive Karnataka has contested in September 2026 alone. The CWMA earlier upheld a 6,000-cusec order for 15 days, which Karnataka also moved to challenge, indicating an escalating pattern of non-compliance amid worsening drought.
What is Karnataka's broader water and drought situation?
Beyond the Cauvery dispute, Karnataka is dealing with a state-wide drought and has requested the Centre's advance release of the State Disaster Response Fund for drought relief. CM Shivakumar has sought financial assistance for affected farmers and families across the Cauvery basin and other drought-hit districts.
