Bengaluru, October 31, 2023: The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has instructed Karnataka to release 2,600 cusecs of water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, ending November 15, 2023. This decision was made due to minimal inflow into the reservoirs and followed a request from the Karnataka government. In response, Tamil Nadu has urged Karnataka to release 13,000 cusecs daily.
The CWRC is a statutory body set up by the Central government to resolve water disputes between the two states. The Cauvery river is a major source of water for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and there has been a long-standing dispute over its sharing.
The CWRC's decision is likely to have a significant impact on both states. Karnataka is facing a water shortage due to the low rainfall this year, and the release of water to Tamil Nadu will further reduce its availability. Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, is dependent on the Cauvery river for its irrigation needs, and the release of water will help to alleviate the drought situation in the state.
It remains to be seen whether Karnataka will agree to release 13,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu. The Karnataka government has said that it is committed to following the CWRC's directions, but it has also expressed concerns about the impact of releasing more water on its own water resources.
