Karnataka Says Cauvery Releases Exceeded Quota
Karnataka has released more Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu than the mandated cumulative quantity over the past decade, according to official water-flow records. The figures have emerged amid renewed tensions over the latest direction to release water despite weak monsoon inflows.
Cauvery Releases Exceeded Required Quantity
The decade-long data shows that Tamil Nadu received water above the stipulated annual allocation during several years when rainfall and reservoir inflows were favourable.
Under the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment, Karnataka must ensure that 177.25 thousand million cubic feet of water reaches Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu during a normal water year.
The required quantity was previously fixed at 192 tmcft before the court revised the allocation. Monthly releases depend on rainfall, reservoir inflows and the distress-sharing decisions issued by Cauvery regulatory bodies.
Tamil Nadu Received Surplus Water
Tamil Nadu received approximately 330.44 tmcft during the 2025-26 water year, exceeding the normal annual requirement by more than 153 tmcft.
It also reportedly received around 128 tmcft above the stipulated quantity during the preceding water year.
Karnataka has argued that these figures demonstrate its compliance with Cauvery-sharing obligations and show that substantial surplus water flows downstream during high-rainfall years.
However, Tamil Nadu maintains that excess releases in wet years cannot compensate for delayed or reduced supplies during critical agricultural periods.
Karnataka Opposes Latest Cauvery Order
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee recently directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs daily for 15 days from July 29, amounting to nearly four tmcft.
Karnataka has decided to challenge the order, citing poor rainfall, weak inflows and the need to protect drinking water and standing crops within the state.
Farmers and Kannada organisations have also protested against the direction, arguing that Karnataka’s reservoirs do not hold sufficient water for additional releases.
