Latest DevelopmentThe dispute has now reached the Supreme Court, with Tamil Nadu filing a fresh petition seeking enforcement of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directions requiring Karnataka to release 3,500 cusecs of water daily for 15 days. He appealed to political parties, Kannada organisations and farmer groups to avoid disruptive protests, saying the government itself was committed to defending the state’s interests. Tamil Nadu has argued that the release is essential to meet irrigation requirements in the Cauvery delta and has approached the Supreme Court seeking implementation of the CWMA’s directions. The Cauvery dispute has remained one of India’s longest-running interstate river conflicts, involving Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry. The recurring Cauvery dispute highlights the urgent need for cooperative federalism, transparent data-sharing and science-based decision-making that balances the needs of farmers, urban residents and future generations.