Cauvery row boils over: TN rushes to SC; Karnataka to hold all-party meet

Tamil Nadu will approach the Supreme Court to secure its required share of Cauvery water, said minister R Nirmal Kumar on Friday (July 31), dismissing Karnataka's stance on the issue.

"Legally, we need to get the required water through the Supreme Court," said Tamil Nadu Law Minister. Meanwhile, Karnataka, which had decided to postpone the Cauvery Water Management Authority's (CWWA) order directing it to release 3,500 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu citing deficient rainfall and depleted reservoir levels, too is contemplating knocking at the doors of the Supreme Court.

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Karnataka also plans to hold an all-party meet to chart the state's next legal and administrative measures.

Legal path

Addressing reporters in Chennai, Kumar stated that Karnataka persistently refuses to release water, even when directed by the commission to discharge specific quantities. Emphasising that the neighbouring state has historically built its politics around denying water, he noted that Tamil Nadu is prepared to secure the rights of its farmers through legal means.

"Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is actively consulting with legal experts and stakeholders, and is expected to announce the state's comprehensive legal strategy and final decisions within a week. The government is currently evaluating multiple avenues, which include approaching the apex court, pushing for a tribunal, conducting inter-state negotiations, or exerting pressure on the Union government," he added.

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The CWMA, upholding the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) recommendation at a meeting on July 30, had directed Karnataka to release a total of 4.5 TMC of water — at 3,500 cusecs daily — over the next 15 days. It is widely seen as a big setback to Karnataka.

What Karnataka govt said

With the Cauvery basin facing a severe shortfall in rainfall this year, the state says water currently held in its reservoirs is barely enough to meet drinking water needs and irrigate existing crops. Citing this, the government has opted against immediate compliance with the CWMA order.

The next course of action will be decided at Sunday's all-party meeting, in consultation with Opposition leaders, legal experts, and irrigation officials. The Congress government is seriously weighing an appeal to the Supreme Court against the CWMA order, backed by data on reservoir levels and drought conditions, and will seek a stay.