The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 24, 2026) sought Karnatak a’s response to a Tamil Nadu plea that it is suffering a shortfall of 20 thousand million cubic (TMC) feet of Cauvery river water.
“They are directing the release of only low quantities. Karnataka has a sizeable quantity,” Mr. Vaidyanathan submitted. There may not be any further rainfall. “They [Karnataka] have water in their reservoirs. Why is my shortfall not being made good? Mr.
He said Karnataka had realised 112. 729 TMC between June 1 and September 9. “They have also drawn 19.349 TMC through the canals in the four reservoirs; 3.9 TMC through Anaicut channels; and 3.962 TMC through diversion in Kabini dam. The total yield in Karnataka is 140 TMC… I should have got at least 57% of the 97.408 TMC Tamil Nadu is usually entitled to receive in normal conditions. That would come to 59.191 TMC. But we have realised only 35 TMC. There is a deficit of 20.969 TMC,” Mr Vaidyanathan submitted.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, for Karnataka, said entire districts in the State have been declared as drought-prone. “Yet, we have taken it on the chin and done our best to comply,” he submitted. He said Tamil Nadu’s kharif crop had been affected. He said the monsoon has receded. Vaidyanathan said.
“The CWRC/CWMA are monitoring. They have discussed everything in detail, including the live storage position of the designated reservoirs in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the declining trend in the gross inflows into the four reservoirs of Karnataka, data, the rainfall activity in the next fortnight, drinking water flow, industrial and environmental flow, El Nino… Every factor is being considered,” Mr.
Divan said. He said that while there was minimal likelihood of further rainfall in Karnataka, the State of Tamil Nadu could take advantage of the fast-approaching northeast monsoon. Justice Sandeep Mehta, on the Bench, said the rights of both States to be heard before the CWMA has not been denied.
The parties could voice their grievances before the authorities.
