The Cauvery basin faces familiar distress due to a truant monsoon and the absence of a distress-sharing formula between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Karnataka's refusal to release water, despite the CWMA's directive, has exacerbated the crisis for Tamil Nadu farmers. Political tensions are escalating, with protests planned in both states. While recent heavy rains offer limited relief, the underlying issue of water shortage persists. The author urges both states, particularly Karnataka, to adhere to existing institutional decisions and pursue a long-overdue distress-sharing formula, emphasizing dialogue and collective political action to resolve the enduring dispute.