BENGALURU, Sept. 25 -- Karnataka has been directed to release 4,000 cusecs of Cauvery water a day to Tamil Nadu for 15 days starting September 25. The state government said it will challenge the order because its reservoirs face pressure from weak inflows and declining rainfall.

The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee made the recommendation at its meeting in Delhi on Thursday. The Cauvery Water Management Authority later accepted it and directed Karnataka to make the release.

The latest quantity is 2,000 cusecs lower than the previous direction. Karnataka had been asked to release 6,000 cusecs a day for 15 days, an order upheld by the CWMA on September 8. That direction expired on September 23.

Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said Karnat...