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Politics
Cauvery Panel Approves Water Release to Tamil Nadu Amid 60% Reservoir Shortfall
✍️ The Hindu
🗓 30 Jul 2026, 09:40 AM
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The Cauvery water‑sharing panel has cleared the release of water to Tamil Nadu after finding that Karnataka’s four reservoirs are operating at a 60% shortfall compared to a 30‑year average.
The Cauvery water‑sharing panel, chaired by the Central Water Resources Commission, has decided to release water to Tamil Nadu for the current season. The decision follows a detailed assessment of net inflow to Karnataka’s four major reservoirs – Hogenakkal, Srirangapatna, Somasundaram and Kaveri – and a comparison with long‑term data spanning three decades.
CWRC chief Vineet Gupta informed The Hindu that the reservoirs are experiencing a shortfall of about 60% relative to the 30‑year average inflow. This significant deficit prompted the panel to consider the need for inter‑state water sharing to meet Tamil Nadu’s agricultural and domestic demands.
The panel’s ruling is expected to ease pressure on Tamil Nadu’s irrigation schemes, particularly in the Cauvery Delta region, while also acknowledging Karnataka’s water scarcity challenges. The decision will be implemented through the existing water‑sharing framework, with allocations adjusted to reflect the current hydrological conditions.
Both states have expressed willingness to cooperate, and the panel has urged the central government to monitor inflows closely and adjust releases as necessary to prevent future shortages.
CWRC chief Vineet Gupta informed The Hindu that the reservoirs are experiencing a shortfall of about 60% relative to the 30‑year average inflow. This significant deficit prompted the panel to consider the need for inter‑state water sharing to meet Tamil Nadu’s agricultural and domestic demands.
The panel’s ruling is expected to ease pressure on Tamil Nadu’s irrigation schemes, particularly in the Cauvery Delta region, while also acknowledging Karnataka’s water scarcity challenges. The decision will be implemented through the existing water‑sharing framework, with allocations adjusted to reflect the current hydrological conditions.
Both states have expressed willingness to cooperate, and the panel has urged the central government to monitor inflows closely and adjust releases as necessary to prevent future shortages.