CWRC Chairperson Vineet Gupta has challenged Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to propose their own scientific water-sharing mechanism amid rising tensions over river flow deficits.

Key Takeaways

  • CWRC Chief challenges TN and Karnataka to present their own distress-sharing formula.
  • Tamil Nadu has criticized the current mechanism as lacking a 'permanent, scientific formula.'
  • Significant water deficits are reported, with a 90% deficit at the Biligundlu gauge site.
  • Karnataka is being forced to release higher volumes to compensate for dry intermediate catchments.

Vineet Gupta, the Chairperson of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), has called upon the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to collaborate on a distress-sharing formula. This comes in response to growing friction regarding how water is allocated during periods of scarcity.

The controversy erupted following complaints from Tamil Nadu, which argued that the CWRC and the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA)—the bodies responsible for implementing the 2007 Tribunal award as modified by the Supreme Court in 2018—are not following a scientific protocol. Responding to these allegations, Mr. Gupta suggested that if the states find the current methods inadequate, they should work out their own mechanism and present it to the committee.

Read Also:Seven Sri Lankan Tamil Families to be Relocated from Bhavanisagar Camp

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that the crux of the issue lies in the extreme hydrological imbalance currently affecting the basin. Due to the 'very dry' state of the intermediate catchment area between the Krishnaraja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini dams and the Biligundlu gauge site, the upper riparian state is facing immense pressure. To ensure the prescribed 3,500 cusecs reaches the border, Karnataka has had to release between 6,000 and 6,500 cusecs from its reservoirs.

"The gap between stipulated requirements and actual river flow is widening due to unprecedented dryness in intermediate catchments."

Current data highlights a dire situation. Compared to the 30-year long-term average, there is a 60% deficit in net inflow to Karnataka's reservoirs and a staggering 90% deficit at the Biligundlu site. As of late July, the cumulative realization at Biligundlu was significantly lower than the mandated levels prescribed by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).

Historical Background

The management of Cauvery water is governed by the 2007 CWDT final award, which was subsequently modified by the Supreme Court of India in 2018. The CWRC and CWMA were established to ensure the technical and administrative implementation of these legal mandates.

Did You Know?: The intermediate catchment area typically yields an average of 80 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) annually, but it has remained almost entirely dry this July.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is there a dispute over the current water release?
Tamil Nadu claims the current distribution lacks a permanent scientific formula, while the CWRC maintains that calculations are based on rainfall and meteorological data.

2. How much water is Karnataka releasing?
To meet the 3,500 cusec requirement at the border, Karnataka is releasing up to 6,500 cusecs due to the lack of natural inflow from intermediate areas.