Weak monsoon strains Cauvery waters as Karnataka, Tamil Nadu clash over supply

A weak monsoon has depleted water levels in the Cauvery river, leaving farmers on both sides of the inter-state boundary facing severe irrigation shortages. In Karnataka, cultivators worry about insufficient water for their fields, while in Tamil Nadu large areas of paddy cultivation remain parched due to inadequate supply.

The competing water demands have intensified tensions between the two states. Tamil Nadu is pressing Karnataka to release more water, but Karnataka resists, prioritizing its own farmers' needs amid the drought-like conditions. The dispute underscores the longstanding friction over Cauvery water-sharing between the neighbouring states.