Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Supreme Court to Hear Tamil Nadu Cauvery Water Plea Monday
Two states in India, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, share water from a big river called the Cauvery.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka is not sending it enough water from the river.
This year has not been very rainy in the region, which makes the water even more important.
A committee that decides how much water each state gets told Karnataka to release 3,500 units of water every day for 15 days.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka released much less water than that, only a small amount each day.
Tamil Nadu asked the Supreme Court, the highest court in India, to make Karnataka send the water.
The Supreme Court will listen to the case on Monday, before two judges named Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
Tamil Nadu says Karnataka has enough water stored in its dams to share a fair amount.
The judges will decide what should happen next in this argument over how the river water is shared.
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on Monday, August 17, Tamil Nadu's plea seeking directions for Karnataka to immediately release its share of Cauvery water.
A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta will take up the matter, which also includes pleas by the DMK and others.
Tamil Nadu moved the apex court on August 3, saying it was not getting its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year.
Tamil Nadu says water released at Biligundlu ranged between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2, far below the CWRC-directed 3,500 cusecs for 15 days.
Tamil Nadu claims Karnataka's reservoirs held 77.537 TMC as of August 3, making its due share at Biligundlu 26.954 TMC, while the Cauvery Water Management Authority allocated only 4.536 TMC.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu government, with the DMK and others, petitioning against the Karnataka government; the case will be heard by Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta.
- What
- Hearing of Tamil Nadu's plea seeking directions for the immediate release of its share of Cauvery water by Karnataka.
- When
- Scheduled for Monday, August 17; the plea was filed on August 3, and the CWRC directive was issued on July 28.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India in New Delhi; water releases are measured at Biligundlu.
- Why
- Tamil Nadu says it is not receiving its due share of Cauvery water in a rain-deficient year and that Karnataka has failed to release the direction-following quantum.
- Bench
- Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta
- Next hearing
- Monday, August 17
- Plea filed
- August 3 by Tamil Nadu government
- CWRC directive (July 28)
- Release 3,500 cusecs for 15 days starting July 29
- Actual releases at Biligundlu (July 29-Aug 2)
- 158 to 550 cusecs
- Karnataka reservoir storage (as of Aug 3)
- 77.537 TMC
- TN's claimed due share
- 26.954 TMC proportionate at Biligundlu
- CWMA allocation
- 4.536 TMC, called 'very less' by Tamil Nadu