The Cauvery water dispute, a long-standing issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, has once again gained prominence as farmers from both states have taken to the streets demanding a more equitable allocation of river water. This ongoing dispute has its roots in century-old agreements and has seen numerous protests in recent years.
The controversy surrounding the Cauvery River's water-sharing began to escalate in 2012 when the Karnataka government failed to comply with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's directive to release 9,000 cusecs (cubic foot per second) of water to Tamil Nadu. This refusal led to violent protests and brought the issue to the forefront of public consciousness.
The most recent chapter in this dispute unfolded in September 2023 after the Supreme Court declined to intervene and upheld the directive of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), instructing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days.
Karnataka, as the upper riparian state, cited a rainfall deficit in August and expressed concerns about a looming drought, which led to the denial of Tamil Nadu's request for more Cauvery river water.
On the other hand, Cauvery water is crucial for Tamil Nadu's farmers, especially for their 'Kuruvai' crop. Around 30 lakh acres of farmland in the Cauvery delta region rely on the river water for their agricultural activities.
Farmers from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have taken to the streets, demanding a resolution to the Cauvery water-sharing issue. As these protests continue, the governments of both states face the challenging task of finding a sustainable solution that addresses the needs of their respective agricultural communities while ensuring equitable sharing of this vital resource.
The origins of the Cauvery water-sharing issue can be traced back to 1892 when the princely state of Mysore and the Madras Presidency signed an agreement on Cauvery water-sharing. In 1924, a definitive agreement was reached, allocating fixed water shares to both regions for 50 years.
However, the formation of new states, including Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, in 1956 necessitated modifications to the water-sharing agreement. When the 1924 agreement expired in 1974, the states failed to reach a fresh consensus.
In 1986, Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court, seeking the establishment of a tribunal to resolve the long-standing water-sharing dispute. Four years later, in 1990, the Supreme Court established the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT). The CWDT issued an interim order a year after its formation, directing Karnataka to release 205 tmcft (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Tamil Nadu annually.
After years of legal battles, the tribunal issued its final award in 2007, allocating 41.92% of the water to the lower riparian state, Tamil Nadu, 27.36% to Karnataka, 12% to Kerala, and 7.68% to Puducherry. However, in 2012, Karnataka challenged the CWDT's allocation in the Supreme Court due to a severe rainfall deficit.
This contentious issue led to widespread protests in 2012, with five Janata Dal (Secular) leaders resigning from their positions in the Karnataka government over the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu.
In 2016, the Supreme Court ordered Karnataka to release 6,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 10 days, resulting in protests in Bengaluru and the loss of two lives. Heavy police forces were deployed in Karnataka's capital, and over 250 individuals were arrested for instigating violence.
Further disputes arose in 2017 when the Supreme Court reduced Tamil Nadu's water share to 177.25 tmcft. This prompted protests in Tamil Nadu, with various political parties demanding the formation of the Cauvery Water Management Board (CWMB). The Supreme Court, in 2018, directed the Centre to establish a board to oversee the implementation of the final award.
In 2018, protests erupted in Tamil Nadu during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Chennai. Demonstrators called for their "rightful share" of Cauvery water.
In 2022, the Congress in Karnataka launched the 'Mekedatu March', advocating for the construction of a reservoir over the Cauvery River at Mekedatu. In August of the same year, the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) announced the release of 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, resulting in protests by farmers and pro-Kannada outfits.
The situation escalated in September, with farmers and pro-Kannada groups staging protests in Karnataka, reigniting the longstanding Cauvery water dispute and bringing it back into the national spotlight.
