Chennai, Aug 26:
The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s recommendation directing Karnataka to ensure a flow of 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
The decision was taken at the 56th meeting of the CWMA held in New Delhi under the chairmanship of S K Haldar. Officials representing Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Puducherry, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala participated in the meeting.
Tamil Nadu was represented by Water Resources Department Secretary Prashant M Wadnere and Cauvery Technical Cell Chairman Thiru Subramanian.
The meeting followed the Supreme Court’s direction to the Tamil Nadu government to raise before the CWMA its grievance regarding Karnataka’s release of Cauvery water.
The CWRC, at its 141st meeting, had recommended that Karnataka release water from its reservoirs and maintain a continuous flow of 9,000 cusecs at the Biligundulu border point for 15 days.
At this rate, Tamil Nadu is expected to receive around 11.66 TMC of water during the period.
Karnataka had reportedly sought a reduction in the quantity to 6,000 cusecs, while Tamil Nadu pressed for a substantially higher release, arguing for its full share of Cauvery water.
After considering the submissions of the two States, the CWMA reiterated the CWRC’s recommendation of 9,000 cusecs.
The water release is expected to support Kuruvai cultivation in Tamil Nadu and also help meet drinking water requirements in the State.
Earlier, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water daily for 15 days from August 12, a direction that had also been upheld by the CWMA.
The latest decision once again underlines the continuing differences between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of Cauvery water, particularly during periods of fluctuating inflows and competing agricultural and drinking water needs.