Karnataka Refuses Tamil Nadu Water Demand During Cauvery Committee Meeting

Karnataka firmly opposed releasing Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu during the latest meeting of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee held in New Delhi. State officials argued that the prolonged weak southwest monsoon has created an unprecedented water crisis, making it impossible to spare water when even drinking water supplies remain under pressure across several regions.

During the meeting, Tamil Nadu reportedly insisted that Karnataka release its share of Cauvery water for agricultural needs. Karnataka, however, maintained that the current reservoir situation does not permit any additional release, stressing that the available storage must be preserved to meet essential drinking water requirements until rainfall improves.

Officials from Karnataka explained that rainfall across the Cauvery basin has remained significantly below normal this monsoon season. Reservoirs received virtually no inflow during June, while only limited rainfall in July has resulted in a small increase in water storage. According to the state’s presentation, the existing reserves are far from sufficient to comfortably meet future demand.

The Karnataka delegation told the committee that the state is facing drought like conditions in many areas. Farmers within Karnataka are also demanding irrigation water, yet the government has not been able to satisfy those requests because priority has been given to drinking water. Officials argued that under such circumstances, releasing water to another state is not a practical option.

The state also pointed out that weather forecasts indicate the monsoon has not yet shown signs of making a strong recovery over the Cauvery catchment. With uncertainty surrounding future rainfall, officials said every available unit of stored water must be managed carefully to avoid a more severe shortage in the coming months.

Karnataka further argued that Tamil Nadu is expected to receive rainfall in the coming period and questioned the need for immediate additional water releases for cultivation. The delegation maintained that while agricultural needs are important, the immediate priority in Karnataka is ensuring safe drinking water for its residents.

Despite Tamil Nadu presenting its demand before the committee, reports indicate that the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee did not issue any direct instruction compelling Karnataka to release water during the meeting. The discussions concluded without a clear directive on immediate water sharing.

Soon after the committee meeting ended, Karnataka Minister Ramalinga Reddy held discussions with senior officials to review the proceedings and assess the developments. The minister sought a detailed briefing on the committee’s deliberations and the state’s position regarding the ongoing water dispute.

The water sharing issue comes at a time when Karnataka is grappling with one of its weakest monsoon seasons in recent years. The state government has already highlighted the seriousness of the drought situation and has urged the central government to assess the prevailing conditions. Officials believe reservoir management and drinking water security will remain the state’s top priorities until rainfall improves significantly.

With the monsoon yet to regain momentum, the Cauvery dispute is expected to remain a sensitive issue in the coming weeks as both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu continue to defend their respective water requirements based on evolving weather conditions and reservoir storage levels.