Context
Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) upheld the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC), asking Karnataka to release 3,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) to Tamil Nadu till October 15.
River Cauvery
- It is known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil, also known as Ganga of the south, and it is the 4th largest river of southern India.
- Source – Talakaveri on the Brahmagiri range (Kodagu, Karnataka)
- Cauvery basin area – Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Union Territory of Puducherry
- Tributaries –
- Left: Harangi, Hemavati, Shimsha and Arkavati
- Right: Lakshmantirtha, Kabbani, Suvarnavati, Bhavani, the Noyil and the Amaravati.
- Reservoirs – Mekedatu (proposed), Mettur Reservoir, Grand Anicut
- “Srirangam Island” – A riverine island in Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu
Mekedatu Reservoir Project aims to store and supply water for drinking purposes for the Bengaluru city. Around 400 megawatts (MW) of power is also proposed to be generated through the project.
Read more about Dam projects in Karnataka
About CWMA
- SC directed the Central Government to frame a scheme under section 6A of the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act, 1956.
- Purpose – To implement the water-sharing award of the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal.
- Head Quarters: New Delhi
- Composition – Chairman (Tenure of 5 years) + 8 members
- The salary of the chairman and others in the authority is divided among the basin states—40% each for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and 15% for Kerala and 5% for Puducherry.
Source: The Hindu
Previous Year Question
Consider the following pairs:
Famous Place: River
1. Pandharpur: Chandrabhanga
2. Tiruchirappalli: Cauvery
3. Hampi: Malaprabha
Which of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Hampi was the capital of the Vijayanagara kingdom and is located on the bank of the Tungabhadra River. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.
