What happened: CWRC order for Karnataka’s Cauvery release to Tamil Nadu
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) issued a July 28 order directing Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days starting July 29, 2026. The CWMA endorsed the CWRC’s order and framed it as consistent with CWRC directions for daily releases that implement the final Cauvery award (2007) as modified by the Supreme Court in 2018.
The CWRC’s release order is described as implying a total volume of about 4.5 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) if the release continued throughout each day of the 15-day period.
How CWRC reaches daily release decisions (mandate and inputs)
The CWRC’s mandate is to monitor daily reservoir conditions and ensure releases remain consistent with CWMA/CWRC directions across monsoon and hot-weather seasons. CWRC monitoring covers reservoir levels, inflows, and storage in three key riparian states and associated reservoirs:
In Karnataka, CWRC tracks reservoirs including Hemavathy, Harangi, KRS, and Kabini. In Tamil Nadu, CWRC tracks reservoirs including Mettur, Bhavanisagar, and Amaravathy. In Kerala, CWRC tracks Banasurasagar.
Related current affairs
- Cauvery Water Management Authority upholds order directing release of Cauvery water to T.N.
- Release Cauvery water to T.N., panel tells Karnataka
- Karnataka to appeal against CWRC order
- DMK moves Supreme Court to direct Karnataka to release T.N.’s share of Cauvery water
- Downpour eases tension over Cauvery water sharing
- India’s PM reviews; Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu over Cauvery releases (CWMA/CWRC context)