The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs per day to Tamil Nadu from August 12 for 15 days — a sharp escalation from its earlier order, and a significant development in the case the Vijay government took to the Supreme Court.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on Tuesday directed the Karnataka government to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu, beginning August 12 and continuing for the next 15 days. The direction was passed at a meeting of the CWRC chaired by its chairperson Vineet Gupta, with a meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority scheduled later the same day.
The order marks a substantial escalation. At its previous meeting on July 28, the CWRC had directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29 — a direction the Cauvery Water Management Authority subsequently upheld and asked Karnataka to comply with. Tuesday's figure is more than three times that quantum.
| Direction | Quantum | Period |
|---|---|---|
| CWRC — July 28 | 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu | 15 days from Jul 29 |
| CWRC — August 11 | 12,000 cusecs per day | 15 days from Aug 12 |
The direction lands in the middle of an active legal push. The CM Vijay-led government approached the Supreme Court on August 3, seeking directions to Karnataka for the immediate release of Tamil Nadu's allocated share. In that plea, the state argued that both the quantum recommended by the CWRC and the volume Karnataka was actually releasing fell well short of what its farmers required.
The issue has run through the government's agenda for the past fortnight. CM Vijay defended his proposed Bengaluru outreach in the Assembly on August 7, saying he was prepared to face humiliation for Tamil Nadu's rights and rejecting calls for an all-party meeting, while maintaining that the state would continue to pursue every legal avenue available. Whether Karnataka complies with Tuesday's direction — and what the Cauvery Water Management Authority decides on it — will shape the next phase of the dispute.
Cauvery Dispute CWRC Karnataka Biligundlu August 11, 2026