NationalSaturday, 8 August 2026·The Hindu - National
CWMA upholds 3,500 cusecs Cauvery release to Tamil Nadu; key water-dispute body and dates for TNPSC
CWMA on Thursday upheld CWRC’s July 28 order directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs a day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Key highlights
Direct fact
In July 2026, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) in Delhi upheld the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s (CWRC) order directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Key specifics
- CWRC issued the release order on July 28, 2026, and asked Karnataka to start from July 29, 2026.
- CWMA is the apex body monitoring water release by upper riparian States under the Supreme Court’s verdict.
- Karnataka told CWMA that inflows into all 4 Cauvery basin reservoirs were 65.65% below the 30-year average.
- Tamil Nadu sought 9.45 tmcft under the distress formula at 7,000 cusecs a day for the next 15 days.
- CWMA noted that Karnataka’s reservoirs may get a minimum of 15 tmcft in the next 15 days and that 4.5 tmcft release would not affect drinking water needs.
Exam lens
Question type: Polity and inter-State river dispute match-the-following, with CWMA, CWRC, 3,500 cusecs, July 28, 2026, and Biligundlu gauge as key facts; TNPSC may ask which body implements Supreme Court-based Cauvery water orders.