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EDITORIAL ANALYSIS : The Cauvery Water Management Authority should act

 

Source: The Hindu

 

Prelims: Current events of national importance, Environmental pollution and degradation, cauvery river and tributaries, CWDT (Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal) etc

Mains GS Paper III: Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation,Solar energy and its use in different sectors particularly agriculture etc.

ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS

  • Casting shadow by the southwest monsoon over the catchment areas of the Cauvery river in Karnataka and Kerala, the elusive distress-sharing formula is back in focus.
  • Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) have made depositions before the Supreme Court.

   

 

INSIGHTS ON THE ISSUE

Context

Cauvery Water Dispute:

  • It involves 3 states and one Union Territory (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry).
  • The genesis of the dispute is 150 years old and dates back to the two agreements of arbitration in 1892 and 1924 between the then Madras presidency and Mysore.
  • It entailed the principle that the upper riparian state must obtain consent of lower riparian state for any construction activity viz. reservoir on the river Cauvery.

 

Background:

  • Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) gave its interim order in June 1991.
  • The judicial bodies had referred to the principle of pro-rata sharing in times of distress.
  • The Tribunal had suggested that in case of two consecutive bad years of rain, the monthly schedule of water release be relaxed
    • All the reservoirs in the entire basin operated in an integrated manner “to minimize any harsh effect”.
  • Neither of the parties to the dispute nor the Authority has expressed anything against the concept of distress sharing.

 

Stand by the States:

Tamil Nadu:

  • It Takes into account the deficit in inflows to the four Karnataka reservoirs vis-à-vis the average flows in the last 30 years
  • The rainfall pattern in three groups of the Cauvery catchment:
    • catchment of the KRS and Kabini
    • catchment upstream of Biligundlu on the inter-State border
    • catchment downstream of Biligundlu

Karnataka:

  • It has maintained that the overall distress situation cannot be calculated till the end of January.
    • Outcome of the northeast monsoon (October-December) should also be taken into account with that of the southwest monsoon (June-September).
  • Karnataka is an upper riparian State that is dependent on the southwest monsoon for irrigation, drinking water.

 

Decision by The CWMA:

  • It deliberated on many factors that included
    • shortfall in inflows and rainfall
    • monsoon forecast over the next fortnight
    • inflows and outflows of four other reservoirs in the Cauvery basin
  • It directed Karnataka to ensure the realization of 5,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) for 15 days from August 29
  • The CWMA pointed out that the shortfall for Biligundlu, as compared to the stipulated flows in a normal year, was 62.4%.
  • It endorsed the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC)‘s direction Karnataka to continue providing 5,000 cusecs for another 15 days (September 13 to 27).
  • Tamil Nadu:
    • It is waiting for the Supreme Court’s intervention to get back “its quota” of water for the one-and-a-half months (half of August and the whole of September)

 

Way Forward

  • The positions taken by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu may appear to be difficult to reconcile but this should not deter the Authority or the Union government — from trying to find a formula.
  • The history of the Cauvery dispute shows that it is people at the helm of affairs who have not risen to the occasion to resolve the problem.
  • Instead of giant steps being taken to solve the issue, settling for status quo has been the norm.
  • The CWMA has shown its mettle so far, but it should now try and make a fresh beginning.
    • The Authority along with its assisting body, the CWRC, should make the proceedings of all its meetings held so far available to the public on a website.
    • Putting out all the facts in the public domain will help the CWMA dispel misconceptions in both States about this issue given that the Cauvery has always been an emotive subject.

 

QUESTION FOR PRACTICE

Describe the various causes and the effects of landslides. Mention the important components of the National landslide Risk Management Strategy.(UPSC 2021) (200 WORDS, 10 MARKS)