what is kaveri issue

The Kaveri issue, also known as the Cauvery water dispute, is a long-standing conflict between the Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the sharing of waters of the Cauvery River. The Kaveri is an interstate basin that originates in Karnataka and passes through Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry before draining into the Bay of Bengal. The dispute dates back to the colonial era when the British government established agreements to allocate the rivers waters among the princely states. The dispute became a hot issue again in 2012 when the Karnataka government failed to comply with then Prime Minister Manmohan Singhs directive to release 9,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, sparking violent protests and bringing the issue to the forefront of public consciousness. The Supreme Court has been involved in the dispute, and in 2018, it delivered its verdict, allocating more water to the state of Karnataka. The issue is exacerbated by the climate crisis, with rainfall deficits and drought conditions affecting the region. The dispute has resulted in violence in the past, but in recent years, politicians in Karnataka have struck a more conciliatory note.