BENGALURU, July 29 -- The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on Tuesday directed Karnataka to release 4 tmcft of water to Tamil Nadu over the next 15 days, ordering a daily discharge of 3,500 cusecs despite the state's contention that dwindling reservoir levels are sufficient only to meet drinking water needs.

Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru, state water resources minister K Ramalinga Reddy said that the government would decide its next course of action after consultations with senior officials and chief minister DK Shivakumar. "There has been no rain here. We need drinking water for the entire year," he said.

The directive, issued after the committee met in New Delhi, is expected to be challenged before the Cauvery Water Management ...