Cauvery Dispute: DMK Moves Supreme Court Seeking Urgent Directions to Karnataka for Immediate Water Release
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has approached the Supreme Court seeking urgent directions to the State of Karnataka to release Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu in accordance with the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgment and the directives issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). The petition comes amid renewed tensions between the two southern states over water sharing during the current monsoon season.
The DMK has alleged that Karnataka has failed to comply with the water release schedule prescribed by the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), adversely affecting irrigation in the Cauvery delta districts of Tamil Nadu. According to the party, delayed releases threaten standing crops and the livelihood of thousands of farmers who depend on timely availability of river water for cultivation.
Seeking immediate judicial intervention, the petition requests the Supreme Court to direct Karnataka to release the quantity of water mandated under the existing legal framework. The DMK has argued that the Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict, which modified the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award, is binding on all basin states and must be implemented in both normal and distress years through the statutory mechanism established for the purpose.
The legal move comes at a time when Karnataka has expressed reservations over releasing additional water, citing concerns about deficient rainfall, reservoir storage and the need to safeguard drinking water supplies and irrigation within the state. Karnataka leaders have maintained that any decision must take into account prevailing hydrological conditions while remaining consistent with constitutional and judicial mandates.
The dispute has also acquired political significance. Efforts to ease tensions through talks between the two states have recently stalled after a proposed meeting between the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu was postponed, reflecting the sensitive political environment surrounding the issue.
The Cauvery dispute has remained one of India’s longest-running inter-state river conflicts. In its landmark 2018 judgment, the Supreme Court finalized the allocation of Cauvery waters among Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry and directed the establishment of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) to oversee implementation of the water-sharing arrangement.
The Supreme Court is now expected to consider the DMK’s plea and determine whether Karnataka has complied with the existing water-sharing directions. The outcome of the proceedings could have significant implications for the enforcement of the Cauvery water-sharing mechanism and for agricultural planning in both states during the ongoing cultivation season.
