Cauvery water dispute: Farmers' woes mount as Karnataka, TN struggle

DAM IF YOU DO, DAM IF YOU DON'T: The Cauvery water tussle isn't just a farm matter; it's also the lifeblood of two cities steering their state economies

The Cauvery River supplies 70-80 per cent of the water requirements for 14.5 million people in India’s Silicon Valley, Bengaluru. On the other hand, about 347 kilometres (km) away, Chennai, dubbed as the Detroit of Asia with a population of 12 million, also depends on it for 15-20 per cent of its water requirements during peak times. Hence, the battle for Cauvery water is not only about the agricultural sector but also the lifeline of the two cities that drive the economies of their respective states.

While political parties blame both sides and treaties for the over a century-old dispute,