Supreme Court to Hear Tamil Nadu Plea Over Cauvery Water

The Supreme Court of India will hear a plea from the Government of Tamil Nadu on August 17 seeking a directive for Karnataka to immediately release its share of Cauvery water. The plea, filed on August 3, argues that Karnataka failed to provide its due share during a rain-deficient year. Tamil Nadu claims that while the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed releases of 3,500 cusecs daily starting July 29, actual releases at Biligundlu were significantly lower, ranging between 158 and 550 cusecs through August 2.

Simultaneously, internal political conflict has erupted in Karnataka. Leader of the Opposition R. Ashoka and other BJP leaders accused the state government of secretly releasing water from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) reservoir to Tamil Nadu at night to appease political allies. Kannada activist Vatal Nagaraj alleged a secret understanding between Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph C. Vijay, threatening protests at the KRS Dam.

Water Resources Minister N. Chaluvarayaswamy denied these allegations, stating no water was released from the KRS Dam in June or July. He attributed current outflows to a Cauvery Water Management Authority directive to release 12,000 cusecs daily, noting that 10,000 cusecs originate from the Kabini reservoir. The Karnataka government is reportedly exploring legal options to challenge the authority's directive in the Supreme Court.