Karnataka has suffered a major setback in the long-standing Cauvery water-sharing dispute after the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directed the state to release 4,000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days.
The decision was taken during a crucial CWRC meeting held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of Vineet Gupta. Despite Karnataka highlighting the severe drought conditions and acute water scarcity across the state, the committee instructed the government to continue releasing water to Tamil Nadu.
During the meeting, Karnataka’s representatives argued that poor monsoon rainfall has significantly reduced water levels in the state’s reservoirs, raising serious concerns over drinking water availability. They urged the committee to take the prevailing drought situation into account before issuing any directions.
However, the CWRC rejected Karnataka’s plea and accepted Tamil Nadu’s contention that water is essential for the ongoing Kuruvai paddy crop. Accordingly, the committee ordered Karnataka to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water every day for the next 15 days.
The committee’s decision has come as a major blow to drought-hit Karnataka and is expected to trigger strong reactions from farmers and the public, who fear that the state’s already strained water resources could come under further pressure.
