Cauvery Water Management Authority Meets

Cauvery Water Management Authority Meeting Overview

Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA):

• Apex body for monitoring compliance with Supreme Court directives regarding Cauvery water distribution.

Rainfall and Storage Situation:

• Karnataka Rainfall Deficit:

  • Overall: ~35%
  • Kodagu Region (key catchment area): ~45%

• Reservoir Storage as of now:

  • Combined storage in four reservoirs (Harangi, Hemavati, KRS, Kabini): 52% of full capacity.
  • KRS Reservoir: only 35% of capacity, with inflows reported at 775 cusecs (July 21).

Government Response:

• Irrigation Restrictions:
  • Karnataka government declared suspension of water release for irrigation, prioritizing drinking water needs.

Supreme Court Directive:

• Water Release Quota:
  • Only 3.4 tmcft released to Tamil Nadu from June 1 to July 19 against a stipulated 28.3 tmcft.

Cabinet Decisions:

• Karnataka Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar, plans to submit a memorandum to the central government for drought declaration within 15 days.

Weather Concerns:

• Experts caution that continuous poor performance of southwest monsoon could lead to further crises in Karnataka, which relies on this season for nearly 75% of annual rainfall.

Previous CWMA Directive:

• Previous meeting on June 23 emphasized prudent water use from reservoirs, especially for drinking needs.

Key Takeaways:

• The CWMA's current deliberations are critical considering the significant rainfall deficits and the implications for water supply to Tamil Nadu.
• The situation underlines the interplay between climate data, government policy, and judicial directives regarding water resource management.
• The development may influence inter-state relations and discussions on water-sharing agreements in the future.