Why did the Cauvery panel order Karnataka to release water?

The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) endorsed the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee’s direction requiring Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29. The total release, if maintained throughout the period, would amount to approximately 4.5 tmc ft of water. 

Institutional Framework for Cauvery Water Management
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)

• The CWMA was established in 2018 to implement the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s 2007 award, as modified by the Supreme Court in 2018.
• It functions under the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• It operates within the framework of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
• The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) functions under the supervision of the CWMA.

Composition of the CWRC

• The CWRC is headquartered in New Delhi.
• It is headed by the Member (Water Resources) of the CWMA.
• Its members include Chief Engineers representing all Cauvery basin States.
• It also includes representatives from the IMD, Central Water Commission and Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare.

Mandate and Functions of the CWRC

• Monitors daily water levels, inflows, outflows and storage in major Cauvery basin reservoirs.
• Ensures scheduled water releases in accordance with CWMA directions.
• Reviews compliance with water-release orders issued during previous meetings.
• Assesses rainfall, reservoir storage and basin conditions during periods of water stress.
• Conducts fortnightly meetings during the monsoon season.
• Prepares seasonal and annual water-account reports.

Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal

• The CWDT was constituted on June 2, 1990 by the Government of India.
• It was established to adjudicate the Cauvery water-sharing dispute among the basin States.
• Its final award was delivered in 2007 and subsequently modified by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Constitutional and Legal Basis

• The Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956 provides the legal mechanism for resolving disputes concerning inter-State rivers and river valleys.
• The Act was enacted under Article 262 of the Constitution, which empowers Parliament to provide for adjudication of inter-State water disputes.

Factors Considered in the Present Decision

• The Committee noted an approximately 60% shortfall in inflows into Karnataka’s four major reservoirs compared with the 30-year average and nearly 90% deficit in flows at Biligundulu. 
• It also considered the unfavourable rainfall outlook, intermediate catchment flows and the combined reservoir storage in Karnataka before ordering the release of 3,500 cusecs.

Reactions of the States

• Karnataka opposed the direction, arguing that deficient rainfall had prevented it from commencing irrigation supplies, and its appeal before the CWMA was rejected.
• Tamil Nadu considered the ordered release inadequate, citing the existing deficit and substantial water requirements for the kuruvai and forthcoming samba-thaladi cultivation seasons.

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu need to evolve a mutually acceptable distress-sharing formula that distributes available Cauvery water during deficient monsoon years on the basis of rainfall, reservoir storage, drinking-water needs, crop requirements and proportional sharing of distress.