The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has endorsed the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's direction for Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of water per day for 15 days to Tamil Nadu. Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar said the state will decide its next course of action after carefully assessing its water availability. The CWMA chairperson said Karnataka is in a comfortable position to comply with the order.
The dispute, which has persisted for decades, continues to strain relations between the two southern Indian states. Tamil Nadu has now approached the Supreme Court in the latest round of the conflict. Shivakumar also commented on the proposed Mekedatu reservoir project, saying that nearly 90% of its benefit would go to Tamil Nadu if built. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay postponed his planned visit to Bengaluru at Shivakumar's request, amid the ongoing tensions over the river's water sharing.
Both states have long contested the allocations from the Cauvery river, which flows from Karnataka into Tamil Nadu.