Change of guard in some states and evolving El Nino dynamics are triggering fresh actions on raging water-sharing disputes in several states.
The Tamil Nadu government has filed a petition in the Supreme Court regarding the Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, alleging that the water quantum allocated by the CWRC and released by Karnataka is insufficient. The state seeks its due share of water, citing Karnataka's ample reservoir storage.
A call for a strike by the Federation of Kannada organisations against the CWMA's directive to release Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu has seen mixed support, with many groups offering only moral backing while essential services and schools are expected to function normally.
Chairman of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal Justice N P Singh has resigned from his post citing ill health. Sources in the water resources ministry said Justice Singh, 80, had sent his resignation papers earlier this week.
Chief ministers from southern states convened at the Southern Zonal Council meeting in Kovalam, where Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar advocated for the 1971 census as the basis for delimitation and a freeze on Lok Sabha seats, while also addressing the contentious Cauvery water and Mekedatu dam issues.
The water level at the Krishna Raj Sagar reservoir has hit a rock bottom and this prompted Karnataka Chief Minister, B S Yeddyurappa to issue a statement that the stipulated amount of water for the month of June will not be released to Tamil Nadu. Yeddyurappa said that the water levels in all the reservoirs have hit rock bottom and hence there is no chance of releasing water.
The Supreme Court has advised the Tamil Nadu government to present its grievance regarding the proportionate release of Cauvery water to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA). This comes after Tamil Nadu alleged that Karnataka was not releasing its due share of water despite directions from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) and CWMA, impacting farmers in the state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has proposed holding talks with Karnataka regarding the long-standing Cauvery water dispute, citing a hope for a positive outcome. Despite his government's firm stance on legal recourse, Vijay believes a dialogue in Bengaluru could lead to a resolution.
Tensions flared up in Karnataka as Tamil Nadu announced that it would go ahead with its drinking water project at Hognekal Falls. Karnataka claims Tamil Nadu does not have clearance from the Centre to go ahead with the project, adding that as the verdict of the water dispute tribunal was under appeal in the Supreme Court, no work could be carried out on the project.
'The Cauvery river has become excessively politicised by all political parties.' 'They see a vote bank in an emotive issue of this kind.'
Farmers organisations and pro-Kannada organisations staged protests in Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and other parts expressing their anger and urging the state government not to release water to Tamil Nadu.
The Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) has directed Karnataka to release 12,000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu for the next 15 days, amidst an ongoing dispute and a pending Supreme Court hearing.
Tamil Nadu Minister C T R Nirmal Kumar has rejected calls for an all-party meeting to discuss the ongoing Cauvery water dispute with Karnataka, citing a previously passed unanimous resolution in the Assembly. He accused DMK and Karnataka CM D K Shivakumar of working against Tamil Nadu's interests and criticised the DMK's "hasty" Supreme Court petition.
While intense protests were seen in Mandya and preventive detentions carried out at several places, life remained unaffected in major urban centres like Bengaluru and Mysuru.
Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Sunday asserted that his government was committed to protecting the interests of the state's farmers and people on the Cauvery issue, while appealing to organisations to withdraw the proposed state-wide bandh.
The Tamil Nadu government welcomed the decision, hailing it as a 'grand victory for the 'Amma (Jayalalithaa) government' and the state's farmers'.
'Sharing of water from a river which flows through several states is a crucial challenge which comes in the way of maintaining the spirit of good neighbourly relations.'
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the Prime Minister's Office officials for not holding a meeting of Cauvery River Authority, headed by the Prime Minister, to resolve the water-sharing dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Udhayanidhi Stalin, was detained by police following alleged derogatory remarks against actor Trisha, which he dismisses as a 'fake narrative'.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to introduce a resolution in the state Assembly opposing Karnataka's plan to construct a dam across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu. The resolution will urge the Centre to withhold technical and environmental clearance, citing concerns that the project would unilaterally affect Tamil Nadu's interests.
Karnataka on Friday pleaded its inability in supplying Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu in line with the Supreme Court's directive saying the state itself is facing a shortage of drinking water.
The Congress leadership should have immediately called on the Karnataka chief minister to implement the Supreme Court order and crack down on the violence, says R Rajagopalan.
The protests, which erupted after the Supreme Court refused to interfere with orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee directing the state to release 5,000 cusecs of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu, have intensified.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice BR Gavai sought a report from the Cauvery Water Management Authority on the amount of water released by Karnataka, after additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati informed the court that a meeting of the authority is scheduled for Monday.
Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar has appealed to his Tamil Nadu counterpart C Vijay Joseph to defer his proposed August 3 visit to Bengaluru. The request comes amidst widespread protests in Karnataka following a decision by the CWMA upholding a direction for Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
On October 18, the apex court had directed Karnataka to keep supplying Tamil Nadu with 2,000 cusecs of water till further orders.
CM Siddaramaiah has called legislature session on September 23 to discuss the SC's direction.
In its plea, Karnataka had said its reservoirs are dry and it can only release water to Tamil Nadu by the end of the year.
Tamil Nadu Leader of Opposition, Udhyanidhi Stalin, has courted severe political backlash and condemnation for an offensive double entendre remark alluding to actor Trisha during a protest gathering in Thanjavur, prompting calls for action from the National Commission for Women.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday retained its direction to Karnataka to release 2000 cusecs of Cauvery water per day to Tamil Nadu till further orders.
Karnataka claims that that it has supplied 116.697 tmcft of Cauvery water, instead of 100.04 tmcft, to TN.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay concluded his first official visit to Delhi, meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss key state issues.
The meeting came in the backdrop of protests by farmers bodies against the release of Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu.
'The Cauvery is not dependable as Karnataka will never consider our needs.'
The Supreme Court also asked the supervisory committee to decide on Tamil Nadu's plea in ten days from Monday.
The Tamil Nadu government has approached the Supreme Court over the Cauvery river water dispute and sought 10 TMC water immediately from Karnataka. "Karnataka has received 26 TMC water in the past ten days and our proportionate share of 10 TMC should be released immediately," says the petition.
The Centre also moved the apex court seeking modification of its earlier order asking it to constitute the Cauvery Water Management Board by Tuesday.
The Supreme Court had on Tuesday retained its direction to Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs till further orders and asked the two states to ensure peace and harmony
The emotional appeal and sane advise came from the bench when Tamil Nadu brought to the notice of the court that the Karnataka chief minister has said that not a drop of water will be released to it.
Following is the chronology of events in the decades-old Cauvery water dispute matter in which the Supreme Court on Friday held that Karnataka will get 284.75 tmcft and Tamil Nadu 404.25 tmcft Cauvery water.
