The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has apprised the Supreme Court that the State of Karnataka released 1,49,898 cusec (cubic feet per second) of Cauvery river water to the State of Tamil Nadu between August 12 and 26.
The Authority filed an affidavit in the Apex Court on Thursday, stating that Karnataka fulfilled its August 11 directive by releasing a total of 1,49,898 cusec water at Biligundlu from August 12 to 26, 2023.
In its 22nd meeting on August 11, 2023, CWMA had directed the State of Karnataka to release water at the rate 10000 cusec from the Krishna Raja Sagara and Kabini reservoirs, so that the flows were realised at Biligundlu, from August 12 onwards for the next 15 days.
The Authority said in the affidavit that during the 85th meeting of Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) held on August 28, 2023 and in the 23rd meeting of CWMA held on August 29, the member from Karnataka informed the authorities that water had been released as directed by CWMA.
It further said that tabulation of the average flow realised at Biligundlu during August 12 to 26 showed the cumulative flow realised during the 15 day period to be 149898 cusec.
The Authority further apprised the top court of the country that in its 23rd meeting held on August 29, directions were issued to Karnataka to ensure realisation of flows at Biligundlu at the rate of 5000 cusec from August 29 for the next 15 days.
The State of Tamil Nadu had approached the Supreme Court on August 14, seeking its intervention for prompt release of 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from Karnataka’s reservoirs. The objective was to secure the specified volume of water at Biligundlu on the interstate border for the remaining part of the month.
The Bench of Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice P.S. Narasimha and Justice Prashant Kumar directed the CWMA on August 25 to inform the Apex Court whether Karnataka had complied with the Authority’s direction on discharge of water to Tamil Nadu.
It further directed CWMA to apprise it regarding the Authority’s decision on discharge of water for the upcoming fortnight.