New Delhi, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Supreme Court on Wednesday deferred to August 17 the hearing on Tamil Nadu’s plea seeking directions to Karnataka to release 26.954 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft) of Cauvery water.
The matter was postponed after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant informed the parties that Justice Vikram Nath, who was scheduled to hear the case on August 13, had fallen ill.
Senior advocate P. Wilson, appearing for Tamil Nadu, also mentioned an application filed by farmers in connection with the Cauvery water dispute. The CJI agreed to tag the application with the state government’s petition.
Tamil Nadu has approached the apex court alleging that Karnataka failed to comply with directions issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA).
According to Tamil Nadu’s petition, the CWRC, at its 139th meeting on July 28, reviewed hydrological and meteorological conditions in the Cauvery basin and directed Karnataka to ensure a flow of 3,500 cusecs at Biligundlu for 15 days from July 29 to August 12.
The committee also directed Karnataka to regulate releases from the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs to maintain the stipulated flow. The CWMA, at its 54th emergency meeting on July 30, examined the basin situation and endorsed the CWRC recommendation.
Tamil Nadu, however, has contended that the water received at Biligundlu after the directions fell significantly short of its rightful share.
The state said that as of August 3, Karnataka’s four major Cauvery basin reservoirs had a combined storage of 77.537 tmcft. The KRS reservoir held 23.078 tmcft, Kabini 18.610 tmcft, Harangi 7.827 tmcft and Hemavathi 28.022 tmcft, with total utilisable storage estimated at 67.517 tmcft.
Tamil Nadu has argued that Karnataka had sufficient water available to release its proportionate share. It also pointed to heavy rainfall in the catchment areas of the KRS and Kabini reservoirs, which had significantly improved inflows.
The state has maintained that, considering the prevailing hydrological conditions and the prescribed water-sharing formula, it was entitled to receive 26.954 tmcft at Biligundlu.
In comparison, the CWMA-directed release of 3,500 cusecs for 15 days would amount to about 4.536 tmcft, which Tamil Nadu has termed grossly inadequate.
The state has sought directions from the Supreme Court requiring Karnataka to immediately release the full 26.954 tmcft due to Tamil Nadu and comply with the directions of the CWMA and CWRC.
The matter will now be heard on August 17.
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