CWMA asks basin States to use reservoir water judiciously, defers decision on Cauvery releases

📌 Summary:

• Amid depleted reservoir levels in the Cauvery basin and poor rainfall in Karnataka, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) directed all basin States to use reservoir water judiciously, especially for drinking water needs
• CWMA deferred a decision on Cauvery water releases and will review the situation at its next meeting, expecting improved rainfall in coming weeks
• The direction came at the 52nd meeting of the Authority
• It was held amid renewed political debate over the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project; on June 19, the Tamil Nadu Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution moved by CM C. Joseph Vijay opposing Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu reservoir across the Cauvery

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — inter-State river water disputes and cooperative federalism; institutional mechanisms (CWMA) for dispute management

📝 Prelims Facts:

• The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) was constituted in 2018 to implement the Supreme Court-modified Cauvery Tribunal award
• Cauvery basin States: Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry
• Mekedatu is a proposed balancing reservoir by Karnataka, opposed by Tamil Nadu

🔑 Key Term: Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) — a body under the Inter-State River Water Disputes framework that supervises water sharing and reservoir regulation in the Cauvery basin