Cauvery water row

The Cauvery water sharing between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has eluded resolution for a very long time.The dispute is over the water sharing formula agreed between the erstwhile Madras Presidency and the Mysore Princely State.The sharing formula was arrived at based on the Cauvery basin area in the states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.The river originates in Karnataka but the river basin area covered by Cauvery in Tamil Nadu is more than Karnataka.Cauvery is the source for irrigation in both the states.Karnataka uses Cauvery water for irrigation ,drinking water and hydel power  generation.The failure of monsoon in catchment areas frequently  resulted in lowering of the reservoir levels and Karnataka  was reluctant to release water to Tamil Nadu as per the agreement.Negotiations between states were not fruitful  and GOI set up a tribunal in 1990 to resolve the ticklish issue.The tribunal delivered a final judgement after 17  long years in 2007.The annual allocation for TN by the tribunal was 419 billion cubic  feet and  270 billion cubic feet for Karnataka.Kerala and Pondichery also have a small share of Cauvery water.All the parties to the dispute filed review petitions .In the meantime there were interim awards by the tribunal and when Karnataka honoured the award there were protests in Karnataka.Politicians on both sides played to the gallery and passions ran high.Karnataka felt the interim award was not equitable and there was no distress sharing formula.In 1997 GOI formed the Cauvery River Authority with powers for implementing interim orders.But  Karnataka opposed vesting these powers to the CRA .Hence the GOI constituted two bodies.CRA with  four  chief minister's(AP,TN,Kerala and Karnataka) as ex-officio members and PM as ex-officio Chairman..The Cauvery monitoring committee consisting of experts to analyse and review ground realities.The current situation is Karnataka is reluctant to release water as stipulated by PM/ CRA/ Supreme court.More over,politicians have made it a political issue  keeping the vote bank in mind.

Both sides should see reason and come to a negotiated settlement and should be  prepared for some reconcilation from their rigid stands.Politicians should stop playing to the gallery and incite passion among gullible public.However as a permanent solution to the irrigation needs,both karnataka and TN should give impetus to watershed management in delta areas and revive tank irrigation systems.In olden times a significant area was irrigated by tank water bodies.There has been a steady decline in water bodies in TN .Laxity by authorities over the years have resulted in many tanks becoming dry .In olden days Kings sponsored tank construction efforts with a vision and purpose . Our governments don't have a long term vision and are not pro active .Tanks were the important irrigation source in the past.TN has become vulnerable to drought because of the neglect in mainataining tank water bodies.There was a steady decline in tank irrigated areas in TN.It is not very expensive to build and maintain tank water bodies.It will also improve ground water recharging.All tanks are rain fed .Wells and pumps gradually replaced tank irrigation .Added to it most tanks were encroached.Not strengthening embankments and no silting also contributed to decline of tank water bodies.All temples in TN had tanks .Now most temple tanks are dry. These temple tanks were used for rain water harvestng by kings those days.In fact there is an old adage in Tamil 'Don't live in a place where there is no temple ' (கோவில் இல்லா ஊரில் குடியிருக்காதே) .The implied moral was that a place with a temple will have no water scarcity . Temple tanks were constructed in areas with rich water resource.

We have more recent examples in Ralegan Siddhi and Hiware Bazaar.Ralegan Siddhi, a tiny village near Pune was affected by severe drought .Today water is abundant in this village and agriculture flourishes.It is a model village today.The success story behind Ralegan sidhdhi is watershed management initiated by Social activist Anna Hazare.Hiware Bazaar was another drought prone village not long ago.Many villagers left the village as there was no water to raise any crop .Like Anna Hazare Popatrao Pawar transformed the village .Today Hiware Bazaar is the village with the highest GDP in the country.Hiware Bazar Gram Sabha instituted a watershed development programme.The village has successfully fought drought and drinking water problems. This village is known for its water conservation systems.This village conducts an annual water audit today.When two committed individuals can change the fortunes of two drought prone villages ,why our governments with so many technocrats and experts at their disposal are not able to address to the issues and resolve them.

Well done Mr.Jagdish Shettar

The Karnataka chief minister Mr.Jagdish shettar has ordered release of cauvery water to Tmailnadu giving due respect to the apex court directive. Unlike his predecessor Sadananda Gowda ,Shettar did not play to the gallery and behaved like a statesman .Statesmanship among politicians is of late a rare trait. Sadananda Gowda while in power convened a press meet to inform people of Karnataka not to believe rumours that water has been released from cauvery to Tamilnadu. He also said not a drop of water would be released from cauvery to Tamilnadu.He had a jingoistic agenda.Shettar seems to be a responsible and sensible Chief minister. He wants to protect the rights of Karnataka people also.While releasing water to Tamilnadu ,he is also taking steps to file a review petition in the apex court on behalf of Karnataka. He has also appealed to the people of karnataka that relase of water to Tamilnadu does not construe that the karnataka government is against its own farmers.This is indeed plain speaking from a Chief minister who has a vision and is really interested in the welfare of the nation as a whole.

The argument that karnataka has drought and sever water scarcity is put forth by those who do not want river water sharing between states.Rivers are national resources.It does not belong to the state where the river originates.All the riparian states downstream also has a rightful share of the water. Just as we share water when it is available in plenty,the scarcity should also be shared and no one can claim exclusive rights to usage of water during difficult times.We do not have national leaders with a pan India vision.This has become more pronounced due to the growth of regional parties.Most regional parties play to the gallery and whip up passions of the gullible public. Due to political expediency national parties have also started doing this to match the regional parties to secure their vote bank.Under these circumstances what Mr.Shettar has done is indeed commendable.

Rice is the major food crop of South India .Tamilnadu's Tanjore is a rice bowl.Cultivation in this area is badly afftected due to lack of cauvery water for decades now.Five southern districts of Tamilnadu like Madurai,Theni,Ramnad etc also have lost vast stretches of paddy cultivtion due to restricted or practically nil water supply from Mullaiperiyar in Kerala . This is another water row between Tamilnadu and Kerala . Sandwiched between these two states with rich water resources Tamilnadu farmers are crying hoarse for their share of the water for decades.Ironically Kerala depends on Tamilnadu for its rice and vegetable needs.Politicians in all the states have made it a sensitive issue by whipping up passions and initiating litigations.

Under these conditions Shettar has made a tough decision with great guts and has shown his vision to resolve this tricky issue .Shettar deserves an all round appreciation .As mentioned in one of my earlier posts,if river water sharing disputes are not resolved amicably ,I am afraid this could become a serious issue that could be divisive and not in the interests of the nation.When electricity produced all over the country could be pooled and distibuted nationally through a grid,why not water,which is another scarce resource.

Karnataka polls

Karnataka polls are scheduled for May 10,2008 .I feel the Karnataka electorate should vote for a single party rule.The largest single party should have simple majority to form a government on its own strength.In the event of a fractured mandate ,national parties like Congress and BJP would again be at the mercy of the smaller regional parties.
Once bitten twice shy .
Both Congress and BJP have learnt bitter lessons from the aging wily politician manniana maga Deve Gowda and his two sons. An hung assembly would once again make Deve Gowda the King maker.Public at large were disillusioned with HDK's refusal to hand over the reins to BSY last time.Despite this HDK,appears to be the most popular among the prospective CM candidates . Strange and inexplicable are the ways of the learned and knowledgable Indian electorate . Probably he appeared to be honest and simple in his approach and was fairly good at cheap gimmicks.
Besides the national parties , the DMK ,and TN political parties are keenly awaiting the Karnataka poll results. A congress ruled Karnataka would be in the DMK's wishlist.It would expect the congress government in Karnataka to resolve the Hognekal dispute to the mutual satisfaction of both the states.On the other hand a BJP win or a coalition government could further hot up and escalate the issue or it might go the Cauvery way as an unresolved and perennial dispute between the two neighbouring states .
Whatever may be the outcome ,and whoever occupies the saddle ,one fondly hopes the new incumbent government would in right earnest address to the growing needs of the metro and maintain cordial relations with its neighbouring states .