Karnataka agrees to comply with Cauvery water release directive

Karnataka has told the Supreme Court that it will abide by a directive from the Central Water Management Authority (CWMA) requiring the state to ensure a water flow of 9,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu for a 15-day period. The CWMA issued the order on August 25, upholding a recommendation from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. The directive addresses the distribution of water from the interstate river, which has been a subject of long-standing dispute between the two southern states.

The Supreme Court, while acknowledging Karnataka's commitment to comply with the CWMA's direction, has instructed Tamil Nadu to pursue legal remedies if it believes the decision is inadequate. Specifically, the court asked the state to challenge the CWMA's order through appropriate channels rather than seek further intervention from the bench on the matter of backlog water release.

The CWMA's decision represents an attempt to balance competing water demands under the framework established for managing the Cauvery river. The 15-day release period is intended to ensure Tamil Nadu receives its allocated share while Karnataka manages its water resources. The Supreme Court's dual directive to Karnataka and Tamil Nadu reflects its approach of enforcing compliance while encouraging states to resolve water-sharing disputes through institutional mechanisms.