Karnataka to move Supreme Court over Cauvery water dispute

Karnataka will petition the Supreme Court to address ongoing concerns related to Cauvery river water allocation, according to state Water Resources Minister Cheluvarayaswamy. The announcement underscores persistent tensions between Karnataka and neighbouring Tamil Nadu over sharing of the interstate river's waters.

The Cauvery dispute has remained one of India's most contentious interstate water-sharing conflicts for decades. Both states have claimed inadequate allocation under existing agreements and sought larger shares to meet agricultural and drinking water demands.

Cheluvarayaswamy's statement indicates Karnataka's intent to seek judicial intervention to resolve disagreements over current water distribution arrangements. The state has previously approached the Supreme Court multiple times on the matter, with proceedings often spanning years.

Tamil Nadu has historically opposed any revision to existing water-sharing formulas, arguing that Karnataka's additional demands would reduce its own allocation. Efforts by central government-appointed tribunals have struggled to achieve a permanent resolution acceptable to both parties.

The Cauvery dispute affects millions of people across both states who depend on the river for irrigation and domestic use. Any Supreme Court intervention is expected to intensify focus on finding a lasting settlement between the competing water needs of the two southern states.