Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Karnataka Plans Supreme Court Challenge Over Cauvery Water Sharing Order
Two states in India share a big river called the Cauvery.
A special group that manages the river told Karnataka to send a lot of its water to the neighbouring state, Tamil Nadu.
The new amount, 12,000 cusecs each day for 15 days, is much bigger than what Karnataka was asked to send before.
Karnataka's leaders say this is too much water and would be too costly for their state.
They say their dams do not have enough water to spare.
The leaders plan to ask the country's highest court to review the decision.
The court will hear the case on August 13.
Tamil Nadu, on the other hand, says it is not getting enough water.
Some farmers in Karnataka are upset and have held protests.
Some groups want a one-day shutdown in the state to show they disagree.
Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy said the state will move the Supreme Court against the CWMA direction to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee issued the directive at a meeting in New Delhi, and the Cauvery Water Management Authority subsequently upheld the decision.
Tamil Nadu's petition in the dispute is listed for a Supreme Court hearing on August 13, and Karnataka will file its objections and decide its next course of action after that.
Reddy said the 15-day release totalling 16 TMC is 'too high a quantity' and too costly, citing about 76 TMC in reservoirs, of which 36 TMC is needed annually for drinking water.
Farmers have staged sporadic protests in Mandya and Mysuru, and some pro-Kannada organisations have called for a Karnataka bandh on Thursday, while some outfits oppose it.
- Who
- Karnataka Water Resources Minister Ramalinga Reddy, Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and Cauvery Water Management Authority.
- What
- Karnataka plans to approach the Supreme Court against the directive to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from August 12.
- When
- The CWRC issued the order on Tuesday, the release is scheduled to begin August 12, and the Supreme Court hearing on Tamil Nadu's petition is listed for August 13.
- Where
- The CWRC met in New Delhi; Karnataka announced its response in Bengaluru; farmer protests have occurred in Cauvery basin districts including Mandya and Mysuru.
- Why
- Karnataka says the 12,000-cusec requirement (16 TMC over 15 days) is too high, citing unsatisfactory monsoon rainfall in the old Mysuru region, low water table, and its own drinking water and crop needs; Tamil Nadu argues the directed and released quantities are insufficient.
Karnataka's Position
Tamil Nadu and Regulators' Position
Water release quantity
Karnataka's Position
Karnataka says releasing 12,000 cusecs daily (16 TMC over 15 days) is 'too high a quantity' and too costly, and plans to challenge the order in the Supreme Court.
Tamil Nadu and Regulators' Position
The CWRC directed the 12,000-cusec daily release for 15 days from August 12, the CWMA upheld it, and Tamil Nadu moved the Supreme Court arguing that the amount directed and actually released by Karnataka is insufficient.
Water availability
Karnataka's Position
Karnataka says the monsoon in its old Mysuru region was unsatisfactory, its water table is too low (no water even at 800-1,000 feet), and it needs 36 TMC of its 76 TMC in reservoirs annually for drinking water, leaving little to spare.
Tamil Nadu and Regulators' Position
Tamil Nadu maintains the directed and released water is inadequate, while the regulators issued the order despite Karnataka's Additional Chief Secretary, advocates and experts presenting their case.
Bandh call
Karnataka's Position
Some pro-Kannada organisations have called for a Karnataka bandh on Thursday to protest the water release direction.
Tamil Nadu and Regulators' Position
Some other outfits have opposed the bandh call.
- Disputing states
- Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu
- Ordered release
- 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water daily for 15 days from August 12
- Total volume
- 16 TMC over 15 days
- Previous directive
- 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days, issued July 28 and upheld by CWMA
- Bodies involved
- Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)
- Reservoir position
- About 76 TMC in Karnataka's reservoirs; 36 TMC needed annually for drinking water
- Next legal step
- Supreme Court hearing on Tamil Nadu's petition on August 13; Karnataka to file objections
- Protests
- Farmer protests in Mandya and Mysuru; Karnataka bandh called for Thursday, with some outfits opposing it
