TN presses Cauvery Water Management Authority to enforce Karnataka's Billigundlu release obligation

Press Release 51st meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority. At the 51st meeting of the Cauvery Water Management Authority, held today (26.05.2026) in New Delhi, chaired by Thiru S.K. Haldar, Dr. Satyabrata Sahoo, IAS, Tamil Nadu Member and Principal Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department, participated via video conference from the Chennai Secretariat. The Tamil Nadu Member stated that as of today (25.05.2026), the water storage in the Mettur Dam stands at 40.742 TMC, and that 1,003 cusecs of water per second is being released from the dam for drinking water, industrial use and environmental flow. He pointed out that in the current irrigation year (2025-2026), against the 176.685 TMC of water that was to be delivered to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu from 1 June 2025 to 24 May 2026, the actual quantity received, including surplus flows, was 329.166 TMC. The Tamil Nadu Member stated that Karnataka's assertion that this surplus water it released should also be factored in could not be accepted, and that Karnataka cannot claim credit for water it was unable to store in its own reservoirs and was compelled to release. According to a report by the India Meteorological Department, the southwest monsoon is forecast to set in over Kerala on 26 May 2026. Considering that the monsoon is expected to be normal, and taking into account inflows into the Karnataka reservoirs, the Tamil Nadu Member urged the Authority to direct Karnataka to ensure, as per the Supreme Court's order, the delivery of the 9.91 TMC of water due to Tamil Nadu at Biligundlu in June 2026. Principal Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department Issued by: Director, Directorate of Information and Public Relations, Chennai-9