Cauvery River water dispute

Why in the new – The Cauvery water Regulatory Committee

(CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 3000 cusecs water
daily to Tamil Nadu till Oct.31.
What is happening -
1. The Cauvery water dispute has again taken center stage, as
Tamil Nadu appealed to the Supreme Court of India in
August, for intervention in ensuring the release of 24,000
cubic feet per second (cusecs) from its reservoir's water
by Karnataka. And ensure its availability at Biligundlu, the
interstate border point for the remaining days of August.
2. The Supreme Court, refused to interfere with the Cauvery
Water Management Authority’s (CWMA) direction to
Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water per day for 15
days to Tamil Nadu (as per the tribunal).
3. State Bandh was called in Karnataka on 26th and 29th Sept,
against this order.
 Why dispute arose in 2023 -

1. Southwest monsoon – the monsoons in

summer from the Southwest direction.
This year the SW monsoon was weak;
thus, Karnataka received less rainfall due
to it.

2. Northeast monsoon – also called the

retreating monsoon, falls in the winter
season from the north-east direction.
This monsoon falls in Tamil Nadu and
provides water to the Cauvery River.
 Cauvery River – why so important
1. A vital source of water, both states rely on Cauvery for drinking and irrigation
purposes.
2. It drains about 81,000 sq. km, which is about 2.7% of India’s land.
 Cauvery River – location;

1. Originates – Kodago district, Bharmgiri range of Western ghats. – Tal Kaveri

2. Flows in the Deccan plateau make two islands, Near Mandaya – Krishna Raja Sagar Dam is
situated
3. Enters Tamil Nadu - Mettur Reservoir created
4. Creates Sri Ranga islands and later divides into 36 different channels in TN.
5. At last – creates a wide delta in TN – the garden of South India.
6. Cauvery Basin – Karnataka, Kerela, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry
7. 66.21% of the area of the Cauvery River basin is covered with agricultural land.
8. Upper catchment area receives water from -summer monsoon - Southwest monsoon
9. Lower catchment area receives water from – retreating monsoon- northwest monsoon
10.This makes it a perennial river – entirely monsoon-dependent.
11.If monsoon is not sufficient – a drought-like situation is created - which is the situation
now in Karnataka- leading to the dispute again in 2023.
Let’s go back to history to better grasp the
problem;
1. 1892 – Water-sharing agreement between British-
controlled Madras Presidency and Mysore
princely state.
2. 1924 – the new agreement was signed with British
intervention for 50 years, permission for dam
construction was given,
Mysore- KRS dam
Madras - Mettur dam
Division was TN - Puducherry got 75%, Karnataka
got 23% and Kerala got 2% in the agreement.

But the dispute continued.

1. 1986 – Farmer association from TN reached SC, with the demand of creation of a tribunal
(institution having authority to Judge) to solve the issue. Tribunals were not originally
the part of Constitution of India, it was introduced after the recommendation of Swaran
Singh Committee through Art,323A, and Art. 323B in 1985.
2. 1990 - SC directed the government to constitute a tribunal for equitable allocation of the
water.
3. In accordance with, Section 4 of the Inter-state Water Dispute Act, 1956 - VP Singh’s
government formed a Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT).
4. Article 262(1) of the Indian Constitution, provides that the Parliament may by law
provide for the adjudication of any dispute related to any inter-state River or river valley,
and Article 262(2) empowers the Parliament to provide that neither the Supreme Court
nor any other court shall exercise their jurisdiction in respect of any such disputes or
complaints.
5. The Interstate River Water Disputes Act 1956 (IRWD Act, 1956) was enacted under
Article 262 of the Constitution of India.
6. For the implementation order – the Cauvery Water Authority (CWA) was created whose
chairperson was the PM and the CMs of all 3 states.
1. 2007 - final order delivered – total water availability in a
normal year – 740 TMC, TN - 419 TMC
Karnataka – 270 TMC
KERELA – 30 TMC
PUDUCHERRY – 7 TMC
So, Karnataka had to release 192 TMCs to TN.
2. The Karnataka government was not satisfied with the CWDT order thus the protest continued.

3. 2018 - SC final order - gave Karnataka an additional 14.75% water and decreased TNs share
by 14.75%. The order was given to the center under Section 6A (modified tribunal award) of
the IRWD Act,1956 to constitute a scheme for implementation.
4. 2018 – The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water
Regulation Committee (CWRC) were constituted.
Since then, the relations were smooth between the two states.
But the distress year takes the whole water dispute resolution to ground zero.
Because neither the SC nor the Tribunal gave any formula about the distress years.
1. Tamil Nadu’s GSDP is at 11.73% in 2022-23 at constant prices from the agricultural
sector.
2. And Karnataka’s GSDP in agricultural sector is 15%.
3. The whole population of Bangalore is dependent for drinking water on the KRS Dam.
4. Tamil Nadu is dependent on Karnataka for the supply of water.
Way forward;
1. Following the National Water Policy which emphasized rational use of water and
conservation of water sources. Urban water management in cities like Bengaluru
should incorporate the conservation of wetlands along with appropriate sewage
treatment.
2. Interlinking of rivers and the Scientific management of crop patterns.