The Tamil Nadu government has moved the Supreme Court of India, seeking a resolution to the Cauvery water dispute and a direction to Karnataka to release the proportionate share of 26.954 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft.) to the State.

In an official release issued on Monday (August 3, 2026), the State government said the petition had been filed on the directions of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and based on the advice of senior advocates.

“As the catchment areas of the Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) and Kabini reservoirs have received good rainfall, Tamil Nadu is entitled to receive a proportionate share of 26.954 tmc ft. at Billigundulu. However, the 4.536 tmc ft. ordered to be released by the Cauvery Water Management Authority is grossly inadequate,” the release said.

The government said despite directions issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee for the release of water, the actual inflow measured at Billigundulu had ranged only between 158 cusecs and 550 cusecs.

It further said the storage in Karnataka’s reservoirs stood at 23.078 tmc ft. in KRS, 18.610 tmc ft. in Kabini, 7.827 tmc ft. in Harangi, and 28.022 tmc ft. in Hemavathi.

“In view of the good storage levels in these reservoirs, Karnataka will have no difficulty in releasing Tamil Nadu’s proportionate share of water,” the government said.

Published - August 03, 2026 03:11 pm IST