People stage a protest over the CWMA upholding the CWRC order to release 3,500 cusecs of Cauvery water daily to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, in Mandya
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The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to maintain a flow of 3,500 cusecs a day at Biligundlu to meet Tamil Nadu's water requirements, a decision that has prompted opposition organisations to plan protests in multiple districts on Friday morning, a BJP official said.The directive arrived despite Karnataka's objections at Tuesday's CWRC meeting, where the state cited cumulative inflows into its four Cauvery reservoirs between June 1 and July 27 that were 65.86 per cent below the 30-year average.The CWRC on Tuesday directed Karnataka to maintain a flow of 3,500 cusecs a day at Biligundlu, to meet Tamil Nadu's requirements.Karnataka had opposed the order at Tuesday's CWRC meeting, citing cumulative inflows into the state's four Cauvery reservoirs between June 1 and July 27 were 65.86 per cent below the 30-year average. State officials said existing storage was barely adequate for drinking water and irrigation needs within Karnataka, without factoring in additional downstream releases. The CWRC upheld the directive despite these objections.Organisers linked the protests to drinking water shortages and a farmer crisis in several parts of the state. Demonstrations are also planned at the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) dam, a key source for the Bengaluru Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB), extending the dispute's reach from agricultural districts to the state capital's urban water supply.The writers are interns with businesslinePublished on July 30, 2026
