Cauvery River
Map: India
Current relevance:
The
Cauvery River is in news as weak monsoon conditions have reduced water
availability, affecting irrigation and paddy cultivation in Karnataka and
Tamil Nadu and intensifying competing demands over Cauvery water.
Continent:
The
Cauvery (Kaveri) River is located in southern India, in Asia, and is one of
the major east-flowing peninsular rivers of India.
Origin and Course:
The Cauvery originates at Talakaveri in the Brahmagiri
range of the Western Ghats in Karnataka and flows generally southeast
through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
States / UT in the Cauvery Basin:
The Cauvery
basin extends across Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and the Union Territory
of Puducherry; therefore, it does not border or flow through any foreign
country.
Major Tributaries:
Important
tributaries to locate include the Kabini, Hemavati, Harangi, Shimsha,
Arkavathi, Bhavani, Noyyal and Amaravati rivers.
Significance:
1.
The
Cauvery River is a vital source of irrigation and agriculture in
southern India, particularly for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
2.
The
fertile Cauvery Delta in Tamil Nadu is one of the region’s most
important agricultural zones, especially for paddy cultivation.
3.
Major
reservoirs, including Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) and Mettur, regulate
river water for irrigation and other requirements.
4.
The
river supports drinking-water supply, hydropower generation, agriculture and
industrial activities across its basin.
5.
Cauvery
water is shared through an inter-State water-sharing mechanism involving Karnataka,
Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
Source: THE HINDU