The Cauvery Water Management Authority has directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu every day for 15 consecutive days from September 25.

At a meeting in New Delhi, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee reviewed reservoir storage in the Cauvery basin, rainfall, inflows and the current water requirements of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. It then recommended a daily flow of 4,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu, a recommendation endorsed by the Cauvery Water Management Authority.

Tamil Nadu told the meeting that it had received only 42.209 TMC feet of water at Biligundlu against a proportionate entitlement of 57.190 TMC feet. State officials brought the resulting shortfall of approximately 14.981 TMC feet to the authority’s attention and stressed the water requirements of agriculture in the Cauvery delta.

An earlier direction to ensure 6,000 cusecs a day for Tamil Nadu over 15 days ended on September 23. Following a review of the latest situation, the daily flow has now been set at 4,000 cusecs for the next 15 days.

Karnataka has objected to the direction. Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar said rainfall in the Cauvery catchment had declined, inflows to reservoirs had fallen, and the state’s drinking water and agricultural needs also had to be considered. He said the state would challenge the direction.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has approached the Supreme Court, alleging a shortfall of about 20 TMC feet in Cauvery water releases. The court has given Karnataka time to respond, and the matter is scheduled to be taken up on October 12.

Because Cauvery water is a key resource for paddy cultivation and other agriculture in Tamil Nadu’s delta districts, the water received over the next 15 days and Karnataka’s subsequent steps will remain closely watched.