Rain Breaks Cauvery Deadlock: 28,000 Cusecs Flowing Into Tamil Nadu

Kuruvai Crop Season Lost

With water levels at Mettur Dam — one of Tamil Nadu's key reservoirs — falling below 79 feet, irrigation water could not be released on June 12 this year as scheduled. As a result, kuruvai (early paddy) cultivation was completely wiped out across the Cauvery delta districts.

Tamil Nadu accordingly demanded that Karnataka release its share of Cauvery water, but Karnataka refused, as it has done on previous occasions.

Karnataka's Repeated Refusals

At the Cauvery Regulation Committee meeting held on June 28, the Tamil Nadu government strongly argued for Karnataka to release water. The committee then directed Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs — equivalent to 4.5 TMC — for a period of 15 days. Karnataka refused that order as well.

Karnataka subsequently filed a complaint with the Cauvery Management Authority (CMA). The CMA convened again on July 24 and rejected Karnataka's argument, ordering the state to comply with the Supreme Court's directive and release water to Tamil Nadu at the levels recommended by the Cauvery Regulation Committee.

Political Heat Rises

Karnataka-based organisations protested against the CMA order. Amid this, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay and Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar were scheduled to meet in Bengaluru today for talks, with both chief ministers holding emergency consultations with their respective water resources officials.

Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu voiced objections to the bilateral CM meeting. As protests intensified in Karnataka, CM D.K. Shivakumar indicated that Tamil Nadu CM need not visit now — leaving the political climate between the two states extremely tense.

Rainfall Cools the Crisis

On July 31, heavy rains lashed the Cauvery catchment areas, effectively defusing the political standoff. Inflows into Karnataka's dams surged, and water was released from Kabini Dam as a safety measure.

As of now, 28,000 cusecs of water is flowing toward Tamil Nadu. The Cauvery has crossed the state border and entered Tamil Nadu soil, bringing joy to farmers across the delta districts.

Dam Water Levels (Current)

Dam	Current Level	Full Capacity
Krishnarajasagara (KRS)	91.8 ft	124.8 ft
Kabini	56.28 ft	65 ft
Harangi	127.55 ft	129 ft
Hemavathi	100.98 ft	117 ft

With Karnataka's dams filling rapidly, water releases to Tamil Nadu are expected to increase further.

Mettur Dam Set to Rise

Mettur Dam currently holds 73.82 feet of water. Once the released flows reach Mettur, levels are expected to rise quickly. Though the kuruvai season has been lost, there is now hope that water can be released from Mettur Dam in time for the upcoming samba (second paddy) cultivation season.