General
Understanding Cauvery Water Dispute: A Century-Old Struggle Between Tamil Nadu & Karnataka

The Cauvery River, traversing the southern Indian states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry, has been at the center of one of the most heated water disputes. This enduring clash, referred to as the Cauvery water dispute, originates from historical accords and conflicting requirements.
In recent developments, this issue has resurfaced, causing significant turmoil in Karnataka. Kannada groups have launched protests throughout the state, disrupting normal life on numerous occasions. Similarly, Cauvery water plays a crucial role in sustaining Tamil Nadu’s farming community, especially during the cultivation of their ‘Kuruvai’ crop. Around 30 lakh acres of agricultural land in the Cauvery delta region rely on the river’s water for their farming endeavors.
Farmers from both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have mobilised, advocating for the resolution of the Cauvery water-sharing dispute.
What reignited the controversy?
The recent dispute arose when Karnataka refused to comply with previously agreed-upon water release quotas. Tamil Nadu insisted on a release of 10,000 cusecs of water over a 15-day period, while Karnataka proposed a lower release of 8,000 cusecs for the same duration. Karnataka justified its stance by pointing to inadequate inflow caused by reduced rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area, including its source in Kodagu. The state government stated that from June to August, Kodagu experienced a rainfall deficit of 44%.
To assert its demand, Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court to ensure Karnataka’s release of 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from its reservoir. In response, Karnataka argued before the Supreme Court that Tamil Nadu had failed to acknowledge that 2023 constituted a “distressed water year,” not a “normal water year.”
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister, DK Shivakumar, subsequently requested a reconsideration of this decision due to water scarcity issues in the Cauvery basin area since the onset of this year’s monsoon season. Consequently, the state formally wrote to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA), urging them to review the order to release 10,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu.
Following discussions during a meeting held on Tuesday, the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee recommended that Karnataka initiate a release of 3,000 cusecs at Biligundlu, commencing from September 28th until October 15th.
History of the dispute
The Cauvery River, known as the “Ganges of the South,” holds immense importance as a crucial water source for the southern states. Its primary usage lies in irrigation, supporting the livelihoods of countless farmers.
This conflict has its origins in the colonial period, during which the British administration formulated agreements to distribute the river’s waters between the princely states of Mysore and Madras Presidency (present-day Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, respectively).
1892 Agreement: The 1892 Agreement between the State of Mysore and Madras pertained to the initiation of new irrigation projects along the river’s course. However, it did not hold the same significance as the 1924 agreement, which would eventually become the root cause of the dispute.
1924 Agreement: In 1910, Mysore proposed the construction of the Kanambadi dam on the Cauvery River. Concurrently, Madras also put forth an irrigation project on the same river. When Madras raised objections to the second phase of the Kanambadi project, it led to the intervention of the Indian government.
Initially, there was hope that the two states could reach a mutually acceptable agreement. However, when this proved unfeasible, a Court of Arbitration, presided over by Sir Henry Griffin, was appointed to address the matter.
Under Griffin’s supervision, an agreement was fashioned on February 18, 1924, intended to remain in effect for the subsequent 50 years. Comprising ten clauses, the 1924 agreement stipulated that, for at least the following five decades, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry would receive 75 percent of the Cauvery water allocation, while 23 percent would be allocated to Mysore, with the remaining share flowing into Kerala, then known as Travancore.
Dispute continues in independent India
Following the state reorganisation in 1956, Tamil Nadu obtained 75 percent of the Cauvery water allocation, which led to an expansion of its irrigated areas. However, the issues continued to persist.
To address the ongoing disputes, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was established in 1990 with the purpose of arbitrating the water-sharing matter. The tribunal issued its final order in 2007.
According to the tribunal’s ruling, Kerala received an allocation of 30 tmc (thousand million cubic feet), Karnataka was allotted 270 tmc, Tamil Nadu received 419 tmc, and Puducherry was granted 7 tmc.
On February 16, 2018, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous verdict that resulted in a reduction of Karnataka’s annual water releases from 192 TMC to 177.25 TMC, consequently diminishing Tamil Nadu’s water allocation as well.
In accordance with the court’s directives, the Cauvery Water Management Authority was established by the Central government on June 1, 2018, to enforce the judgment.
The present
On August 14, the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court, seeking its intervention to compel Karnataka to promptly release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from its reservoirs.
Tamil Nadu urged the Court to instruct Karnataka to adhere to the release of 36.76 TMC of water, as mandated for September 2023 by the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in 2007.
Karnataka argued that diminished rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area, encompassing regions in Kerala, had resulted in insufficient inflow into its reservoirs.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah elucidated that historically, whenever there was an excess of water in the reservoirs, Karnataka willingly supplied it to Tamil Nadu. However, unfavorable conditions this year have left Karnataka unable to do so.
Upon reaching the court, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the orders of the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.
These directives mandated Karnataka to maintain the release of 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
On September 18, the Cauvery Water Management Authority reaffirmed the necessity for Karnataka to persist with the release of 5,000 cusecs (cubic feet per second) of water to Tamil Nadu, aligning with the prior order issued by the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on September 12.
Contending Perspectives
The Karnataka government maintains that the terms of the 1924 agreement, which had a 50-year expiration date, should not be applicable to the current water distribution scenario.
Karnataka also argues that when the agreement was forged, Tamil Nadu was under British governance, while Karnataka was a princely state, potentially limiting its ability to effectively assert its interests.
In contrast, Tamil Nadu asserts that making fundamental alterations to the 1924 agreement would prove detrimental to both regions. Tamil Nadu contends that the original understanding during the negotiation of the agreement was for its clauses to be reviewed after 50 years rather than completely overhauled.
Maharashtra
Samajwadi Party is not part of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Vikas Aghadi: Abu Asim Azmi

Mumbai: The Samajwadi Party will not enter into an electoral alliance with the Maha Vikas Aghadi in the Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections, not will it be part of this alliance. Those who objected to the release of innocent Muslims imprisoned for 19 years but remained silent on the release of the accused in the Malegaon blasts. Those who express pride in the demolition of the Babri Masjid, take the names of Lord Ram and Lord Vishwanath, but call the holy water of the Sangam smelly and make Uttar Bharatiyas and North Indians a target for violence. This is a province where the Pawars go to do their country’s panddan. Those belonging to such provinces insult and subject North Indians and Biharis to violence.
If such people are part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Samajwadi Party will never be part of it.
The Samajwadi Party does politics of justice, secularism, constitutional values and Ganga-Jamuni culture. Therefore, we cannot be part of any alliance that includes forces that spread hatred and divide the country. This kind of explanation has been given by Mumbai Maharashtra Samajwadi Party leader and MLA Abu Asim Azmi. Elections are approaching, in such a situation, Mahayoti and Maha Vikas Aghadi are very serious about their allied parties. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has clearly refused to enter into an understanding with Maha Vikas Aghadi and has called it biased. Now there is curiosity about the expected entry and entry of MNS in Maha Vikas. In such a situation, the Samajwadi Party has denied it and said that it is unable to participate in the elections with those who incite violence on the basis of regionalism.
Maharashtra
Controversy over ban on photography in the guise of Shivaji Maharaj at Vasai Fort, verbal clash with non-Marathi guard, attempt to create Hindi-Marathi controversy

Mumbai: The Marathi-non-Marathi conflict in the ancient fort of Mumbai’s Vasai has once again intensified the atmosphere. Due to which tension has spread in the area and after allegations of obscenity and immoral behavior of young couples in the fort, the police have issued an alert around the fort. A Marathi-Hindi conflict broke out in the ancient fort in Vasai Virar when a non-Marathi migrant guard opposed a photo shoot in the guise of a Maharaj, after which the video went viral on social media and now there is a flood of comments on it. The migrant guards of Bhayander Center stopped the artists who were getting a photo shoot and filming in the guise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Vasai Fort, which is located within the limits of Vasai Police Station.
Social media influencer actor Rupesh Dilip Halawale has shared an incident that happened to him on social media. Rupesh Halawale was getting a photo shoot in the guise of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Vasai Fort. However, a person present there stopped them from taking photos. Moreover, since he was a migrant, he could not speak Marathi. On this, Rupesh consoled the man.
In the video, Rupesh first says in Hindi to a man dressed as a security guard, “I respected you by speaking Hindi, then you should also respect me by living in Maharashtra and speaking Marathi.” Then he asks him, “How many years have you been working here? Why haven’t you learned Marathi in all these years? Why don’t you know Marathi? When will you learn Marathi?” Then he shows the man’s identity card. On which the name of Brijesh Kumar Gupta is written.
Then Rupesh says, “This man works as a security guard in Vasai Fort. When we were taking photos in the attire of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, he stops the Marathi people and says in a very adamant manner, I don’t know Marathi.”
Then the security guard brings another person. On this too Rupesh says, “You want to be famous.. You have brought this man here to do bhai giri, if you do not respect Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj here then you will have to leave this job, there is a shooting of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj here. We should know what is the condition of the forts, how was the fort built, what do couples do when they come here”.
“It is okay for some people to come with their mothers and sisters. But when some people come to do inappropriate and immoral things, what do you do, your eyes get wide open.
“Here we do not do any nonsense, we do not wear Maharaj’s clothes and drink alcohol. We are just taking pictures. When the couples are doing nonsense, you do not say anything to them. This will not be tolerated. Then you respect them, and start learning Marathi from tomorrow.
Maharashtra
Mumbai drivers should be given 25% discount on purchase and conversion of electric vehicles: Raees Shaikh

Mumbai: Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Shaikh has written a letter to the state transport department on the draft Motor Vehicle Aggregators Rules, 2025, suggesting that drivers be given a 25 per cent subsidy on the cost of converting to an electric vehicle (EV) and it should be provided from the Driver Welfare Fund. The transport department had published the draft rules in this regard on October 9 and the last date for submission of suggestions and objections is October 26.
MLA Raees Shaikh said that to increase the income of drivers, the daily working hours limit should be increased, passengers should be given a fixed period to cancel the ride without being charged a fine, a government grievance redressal portal should be created, delay compensation should be given to passengers, medical and psychological tests of drivers should be conducted and regular testing of GPS should be done from funds.
Raees Shaikh, in a letter to the Transport Commissioner, suggested a phased transition to EVs to promote sustainable transport in draft Rules 18 and 20. Since drivers will not be able to bear the heavy costs, these changes will be possible if a 25% subsidy is provided through the Driver Welfare Fund. Raees Shaikh has suggested major changes in the ride cancellation policies under Rule 17. Passengers should be fined only if the driver comes within 200 meters of the pick-up point. In addition, passengers should be given a grace period of 2-3 minutes to cancel after booking without any fee.
The cost of fines due to software glitches or GPS errors should be borne by the aggregators, not the drivers. In case of vehicle malfunction, passengers should be refunded 10% of the fare if there is a delay beyond the permissible limit. MLA Raees Shaikh has recommended that there should be a government portal for complaints that are not resolved for more than seven days.
On driver welfare under Rule 10, Raees Shaikh has insisted that the cost of mandatory medical and psychological tests should be borne entirely by the aggregators. The limit of daily working hours should be increased to 14 hours. This will help increase the income of drivers.
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