Cauvery water row: Supreme Court to hear Tamil Nadu plea against Karnataka on August 17

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on August 17 the Tamil Nadu government's plea seeking directions to Karnataka to immediately release its due share of Cauvery river water. The case is listed before a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta, according to the court's cause list.

The matter was fixed for hearing after the court said on August 12 that petitions filed by Tamil Nadu and other parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), would be taken up on August 17. Tamil Nadu approached the apex court on August 3, arguing that it was not receiving its allocated share of water despite facing a rain-deficient year.

The state government has alleged that both the quantity recommended for release by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee and the actual supply from Karnataka were far below its requirements. At a meeting on July 28, the committee directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days from July 29. However, Tamil Nadu said the actual flow recorded at Biligundlu on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border was only between 158 and 550 cusecs from July 29 to August 2.

Tamil Nadu also pointed to the water storage levels in Karnataka's four reservoirs — Krishna Raja Sagara, Kabini, Harangi and Hemavathy. As of August 3, the combined storage in these reservoirs was 77.537 TMC, according to a statement from the Tamil Nadu government. The state argued that Karnataka would be able to release the due share without difficulty. It further noted that recent rainfall in the catchment areas of the KRS and Kabini reservoirs had increased the amount of water expected to flow downstream.

According to Tamil Nadu, the proportionate quantity due at Biligundlu should be 26.954 TMC. The state also said the order of the Cauvery Water Management Authority allocating 4.536 TMC was “very less.” It alleged that Karnataka has “failed” to release its due share and maintained that 26.954 TMC remains payable.

The ongoing dispute over the sharing of Cauvery water has been a contentious issue between the two states for decades. The Supreme Court, in its 2018 judgment, provided a revised formula for the allocation of water. The Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee were subsequently constituted under that framework to monitor and regulate releases.

The upcoming hearing is significant as it comes at a time when the region is experiencing a water shortfall. Tamil Nadu has stressed the needs of its farmers and delta districts, while Karnataka has previously cited its own domestic and agricultural requirements. The court will need to weigh these concerns while ensuring compliance with the regulatory mechanism.

In its plea, Tamil Nadu has sought immediate intervention to prevent further hardship. The state has maintained that the shortfall in water release could cause severe damage to standing crops. The bench is expected to hear arguments from both sides before deciding on any interim directions.

The case is being closely watched, as inter-state river water disputes often carry political and emotional weight. The court's handling of this matter may also influence future approaches to river-sharing conflicts during times of scarcity.

As the legal process unfolds, stakeholders across both states will await the outcome of the August 17 hearing. The bench could either issue directions or schedule further proceedings.