Cauveri Water Dispute

Background:
Origin of Cauveri River: Karnataka
Flows through: Karnataka-Tamil Nadu
Cauveri Basin covers Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry (Tributaries of Cauveri flows
through Kerala and Puducherry)

Beginning of Dispute
1892: Between Mysore (Princely state) and Madras Presidency (Under British Rule)
Mysore wants to build irrigation systems on cauveri. Madras disagrees as it will restrict water flow
in Tamil Nadu.

1910: Both states start plans of building reservoirs on the river

1913: Mysore asks for permission from Madras to build reservoir on Cauveri. Issue is then referred
to an arbitrator appointed by the British Raj. Arbitrator allows Mysore to build a reservoir. Madras
challenges the arbitral award.

1924: Madras and Mysore sign an agreement over the water usage from the proposed Krishna Raj
Sagar Dam (1931). The agreement is valid for 50 years.
The agreement also allowed Madras to build the Mettur Dam (1934).
Agreement terms: Tamil Nadu and Puducherry will get 75% of the “surplus water”. Karnataka will
get 23% and rest will go to Kerala.

1947: India becomes Independent

1956: States are reorganised based on language.
1960-1980: Karnataka builds 4 dams on Cauvery- Hemavati, Harangi, Kabini and Suvarnavathy.
1974: 1924 agreement lapses
Karnataka says that internation norm should be followed and water should be shared 50-50. 47% to
Karnataka, 47% to Tamil Nadu and rest to Kerala and Puducherry.

1986: Farmers’ Association from Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu approaches Supreme Court for the
formation of a tribunal to resolve the water dispute
1990: After failed negotiations between the two parties, Supreme Court sets up the Cauvery Water
Disputes Tibunal on June 2, 1990.
CWDT Head: Justice Chittatosh Mookerjee.

25 June, 1991: CWDT, after calculating the water inflow into Tamil Nadu from 1980-1990, gives
interim award. Karnataka has to release 205 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil
Nadu every year. Tribunal directs Karnataka to not increase its irrigated land area from the existing
11,20,000 acres (4500 km2).
Result: Riots and dissatisfaction in both states. Karnataka moves to the Supreme Court to annul the
award. Karnataka passes an ordinance to nullify the award.
Supreme Court struck downs the ordinance and upheld the award. December 11, 1991.

1993: Jayalalithaa (Then CM of Tamil Nadu) goes on hunger strike in Chennai (MGR Memorial),
says Karnataka is not following the interim award. Karnataka clarifies that there is drought in the
state and therefore they can’t release the required water.

1998: Cauvery River Authority (CRA) is formed. Function: Implement the interim order of the
CWDT. CRA chairperson: Prime Minister; members: CM of the 4 states.

September, 2002: CRA directs Karnataka to release 9000 cusecs of water per day to Tamil Nadu.
February 5, 2007: Final award passed by the CWDT.
Available Water in the basin: 740 tmc ft
For Karnataka: 270 tmc ft
For Tamil Nadu: 419 tmc ft
For Kerala: 30 tmc ft
For Puducherry: 7 tmc ft
Inevitable escapages to the sea: 14 tmc ft

During a normal year, CWDT ordered Karnataka to release 192 tmc ft of water annually at the
interstate border to Tamil Nadu in monthly installments.
As for a distress year, lack of clarity. Tribunal suggests that the water share should proportionately
reduced among the states. The vagueness is one of the reason of the dispute.
2012: Karnataka sought review of CRA order to release 9000 cusecs of water per day due to
drought in the state. (Order dated 19 september 2012). Supreme Court slams Karnataka govt. For
failure to comply with the order of CRA. Karnataka releases water.
Violence and protests in Karnataka ensue.
Supreme Court tells Karnataka govt to ask the CRA for review of its order to release water.
Manmohan singh bars review of the order until October 20. (Karnataka asked for a stay on the
release of water till October 15.)
Karnataka stops the release of water citing water shortage in the reservoir.

19 Feb, 2013: Center notifies the final award as awarded by the CWDT.
2013 March and June: Jayalalithaa moves to Supreme Court for the formation of the Cauvery
Management Board. First (March) asks for directions to the Water ministry to form the authority
and then moves the Court to constitute the authority itself. Fails.
28 May, 2013: Tamil Nadu moves the Supreme court for Rs. 2480 crores in damages for not
following the orders of the CWDT.

2016: Tamil Nadu moves the Supreme Court to make Karnataka release water for its rice
cultivation. Karnataka cites distress and that there is only enough water for drinking.
Court asks Karnataka to release water on humanitarian grounds. Tamil Nadu asks for 20,000 cusecs
of water per day, Karnataka says it can release 10,000 cusecs only, Supreme Court directs
Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs of water for 10 days till September 16, 2016.
Widespread protests and violence in Karnataka. Karnataka approaches Supreme Court for review of
the previous order. Court modifies it to 12,000 cusecs per day till September 20, 2016. Riots break
out in Bangalore, Mysore and many other parts of the state.

On September 23, 2016, Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed resolution to not release water and
defy the Supreme Court’s order. Karnataka repeatedly defies the Apex court’s orders until Supreme
court gives Karnataka a “last chance”. Karnataka moves a review petition of the latest order for
release of water.

2018: Final Verdict announced on February 16, 2018.

Judge: Dipak Misra, CJI.
Decision: Water allocation to Tamil Nadu decreased by 14.75 tmc ft of water.
Karnataka now has to release only 177 tmc ft of water per year to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 years.
Final allocation as per the decision on February 16, 2016:
Karnataka: 284.75 (270 + 14.75) tmc ft.
Tamil Nadu: 404.25 (419 – 14.75) tmc ft.
Kerala: 30 tmc ft.
Puducherry: 7 tmc ft.
Environmental protection: 10 tmc ft.
Wastage to sea: 4 tmc ft.

The verdict also led to the formation of Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) on June 1,
2018 and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) on June 23, 2018.
Head of CWMA: S. Masood Hussain
Chairman of CWRC: Navin Kumar