Karnataka could block Tamil Nadu's Cauvery share with 45‑day Mettur water release, says CPM leader P Shanmugam

Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader P Shanmugam told reporters that a prolonged 45‑day release of water from the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu could be used by Karnataka to contest the state's entitlement to Cauvery water. He highlighted that the timing and volume of the release would affect the calculations used by the Cauvery Water Management Authority to allocate shares between the two states. Shanmugam warned that Karnataka might leverage the extended release to argue that Tamil Nadu has already exhausted its quota, thereby seeking a reduction in the share allotted to the southern state. The statement comes amid ongoing disputes over water sharing, with both states closely monitoring reservoir levels ahead of the monsoon season. No official response from Karnataka or the central water board has been recorded at the time of reporting.