Cauvery Water Management Authority upholds CWRC’s order to Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu

Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar speaks to the media regarding an appeal before the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) against the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, in New Delhi on July 29, 2026. | Photo Credit: ANI The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) that met in Delhi on Thursday (July 30, 2026) upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order that Karnataka should release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at a rate of 3,500 cusecs a day for 15 days.The CWMA, which is the apex body that monitors the implementation of water release by the upper riparian States as per the Supreme Court’s verdict, asked Karnataka to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the CWRC’s order.The CWRC had on Tuesday (July 28, 2026) ordered Karnataka to commence release of water to Tamil Nadu with effect from Wednesday (July 29). However, Karnataka which is reeling under serious drought, had filed an appeal against the CWRC before the CWMA. But the CWMA, which looked into the issue on Thursday (July 28, 2026), has now told Karnataka to stick to the CWRC’s order on water releases.All-party meetingKarnataka has now decided to take the Opposition parties into confidence and Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has convened an all-party meeting in Bengaluru on Sunday (August 2, 2026) to discuss the issue and take their advise on the next move.The Chief Minister, who is camping in Delhi to consult the party high command on Cabinet expansion, told mediapersons that all the former Chief Ministers would also be invited to the all-party meeting to seek their advise on the issue. Legislators and MPs from the Cauvery basin have also been invited for the meeting. Farmers’ outfit led by Kurubur Shanthakumar stages a road blockade on Mysuru-Ooty Highway to protest against the CWRC direction to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu, on July 29, 2026. | Photo Credit: M A Sriram Sources in the government said that the State would now discuss the issue with legal experts, too, to arrive at a decision on its next legal fight. Karnataka is said to be considering all the legal options before it now considering the unrest that is already brewing in its Cauvery basin as the farmers have resorted to protest against any water release. Farmers’ organisations are already agitated with the State government owing to its decision to desist from releasing water for irrigation purposes in the State’s command area following the drought.Karnataka is facing a rainfall deficiency of about 35% in the entire State, which is as high as 45% in Kodagu district, that forms the major catchment area for Cauvery.Karnataka’s concernsSources in the Karnataka government said that their main concern was that they would end up releasing nearly double the quantum of water stipulated by the CWRC and CWMA, considering dry hydrological conditions in the river bed till Biligundlu measuring gauge located on the inter-State boundary. The stipulated quantum of water has to be realised at the Biligundlu measuring gauge.The State fears that such a situation may come in the way of taking care of its own drinking water requirements. Published - July 30, 2026 05:35 pm IST