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KAAVU YERIDA KAAVERY

For those who are not in the know of Kannada ‘Kaavu yerida Kaavery’ is where Kaavu represent ‘heat’ Yerida means ‘rising’. Thus we can infer the title to mean “Rising Heat around river Kaavery”.

Indeed, the whole of north is reeling under cold wave of the December winter. But the southern Indian states of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka are engaged in a war of words of one-up manship, thus raising the temperature around the border areas of these states, fighting for a larger share of water from its celestial source in Kodagu’s Talakaavery.

Water, everybody knows, is needed for all, at all times, in abundant quantity. Given the choice, nobody want to suffer its inadequate supply. Fortunately for these states, there is this gift of nature, the river Kaavery. What is needed is its fair distribution, as per the needs of people on both sides. But men being men, they unfortunately suffer from selfish streaks, both from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, are no better.

The issue of distribution of water from Kaavery has a history of some 132 years. It dates back to 1870. However it was only in 1924, that Krishna Raja Sagar Reservoir in Karnataka and Mettoor Reservoir in Tamil Nadu were constructed. Still until 1968, there were no problems apparently. It was only in Aug: 1968, the first meeting took place with union govt. and parties to the dispute. With union government not taking a stand, Tamil Nadu approached the Apex Court in 1972 praying for direction to the union govt. to constitute a tribunal to go into the issue of fair distribution of water. On the assurance by the then PM Indira Gandhi, Tamil Nadu withdraws the application to the Supreme Court. Union govt sets up a Fact Finding Committee, which submits its report in Dec 1972 and follows it up with one more report in Aug 1973. Tamil Nadu rejects both. Thus began the dispute of almost four decades.

Haggling, as usual, persisted. Years passed by. May be rain god was kind. Despite bickerings, there was no visible bad blood between these neighbouring states. Tamil Nadu kept insisting for the formation of a tribunal and went to Supreme Court with the demand. On June 2, 1990, on the direction of Supreme Court, union govt. notified “Kaaveri Water Dispute Tribunal” with 3 judges. Tribunal gives its order and centre notifies, despite protest by Karnataka. Violence erupts in Bangalore, Mandya and Mysore targeting Tamils. Tamil Nadu retaliates. It was in Dec. 1991. 

It was a very sad development. Indeed water had the potential to be an explosive issue. It was in the celebrated Hollywood block buster, ‘Lawrence of Arabia’, where Omar Sharif as ‘Sharif Ali’ kills a Bedouin guide for drinking water from a well without permission. It is a precious commodity, in the Arabian desert where water is in acute short supply. It is another matter that whole of middle-east, occupied by Arabs had the wisdom of converting sea water into potable water and solved the problem for ever. Will India ever have that wisdom?!

Four months later, in April 1992, Tribunal unilaterally issues a clarification “in a situation of distress pro-rata sharing could be adopted”. Surely 3 learned judges could have visualised such a possibility in their original order and, by hindsight, could have avoided the violent response. But as a nation, haven’t we rushed ‘where  angels fear to tread!’ 

So, you had a Fact Finding Committee in 1972, the report of which was rejected by Tamil Nadu. And then the 1991 Tribunal award came by, which Karnataka protested. So between these two, there lies a solution where some give and take has to take place. Certainly, it is apparent that issues are same on both sides, but the linguistic differences have made the issue so much more difficult. 

Kaavery River Authority, Kaavery Monitoring Committee, are some of the steps taken by the Central government. But bickering continued. In 2003, Kaavery Family was constituted by some civil society initiative consisting of farmers, academics, journalists from both states to understand the problems on either side. Surely it is not something which is unsurmountable. There is certainly need for the leaders of both states to be statesmen like, beyond the narrow parochial mindset. We should not let our judgement get crippled by ‘us and ours” syndrome. We need to separate issues from the people. 

But can that happen?

We have a Prime Minister, who refuses to see the Chief Minister of a state, when he comes calling to talk. Surely, being a bilateral issue, PM cannot take a stand, but refusing to see a Chief Minister is being rude and cannot help the matter. Is it the coalition politics!

One thing is very clear, there is a persisting problem. How much both sides have contributed, how much union govt. agencies have contributed, how nature has contributed to the overall situation, has got to be studied.

When it comes to understanding the role of both states and its stake holders, especially farmers and their actions, there has to be clarity, on issues like water conservation measures, utilisation dependent on crop pattern and crop variety etc. We all know that there are crops which need more water and those which need less water. So that there has to be a balance to help either side. Irrigation practices, is one more area, which can help reduce or eliminate water wastage. A pertinent point is raised by one K N Shivkumar from Bengalooru. Writing a letter to an editor, he informs “Nearly 300tmc ft of water flows into the Bay of Bengal every year from Tamil Nadu due to wasteful irrigation practices there and due to excess water availability. No attempt has been made to guage this wastage and prevent it”. Of course, there is no confirmed verification of this statement, besides we cannot say that similar wasteful practice may not be prevalent in Karnataka too. Thus chances are that both states could be right and wrong at the same time. Understandably there are list of complaints from either state.

Karnataka complains

1) Disproportionate usage by Tamil Nadu. The share of Tamil Nadu is 419tmc ft as against 270tmc ft for Karnataka.

2) There is no formula of distress sharing when there is shortage of rainfall.

3) Bengalooru city has grown, with 40% Tamil population, it needs more water. There is no mechanism to address this. Human Rights clause: UN A/HRL/RES/18/1, recommends that Karnataka drinking water needs should be higher priority than 2nd or 3rd crop in Tamil Nadu.

4) Tamil Nadu also gets North Eastern monsoon, in Oct/Nov/Dec. Releasing during these months will only increase supply in Tamil Nadu and hence increased waste.

5) Tamil Nadu is used to bullying since the days of British from Madras Presidency. Since it was the colonial governorate from St. George in the then Madras, which forced Kaavery water distribution agreement in 1892.

6) Taking Kaavery water for granted Tamil Nadu has increased its cultivated area to almost 3 times that of Karnataka. 

7) Despite this fight with Karnataka, Tamil Nadu do not control water wasting into Bay of Bengal.

Tamil Nadu complains

1) Karnataka is a bad state that violates Supreme Court orders.

2) Karnataka is violent when it comes to river water sharing.

3) Not managing its water requirement better.

4) Karnataka gets more rain water than Tamil Nadu.

5) Kaavery is our right.

6) When KRS and other smaller Karnataka dams are close to being full in Sept., even if there is water in Mettoor Dam in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka cannot be trusted to hold our water share till December or January, when crops need this water. Hence monthly release is necessary.

One very important issue is the politics of river water sharing. It has provided ammunition to all and sundry politicians to raise the bogie and be in the limelight.

Kaavery water distribution problem cannot be wished away. It is real. It will remain for all time to come. But the fact remains that there is not enough water for all in abundant quantity. As Mahatma said, we should remember that ‘there is enough for our need but not for our greed’ so we should have a disciplined/accommodative approach to the issue. After all it is a national property, belonging neither to Karnataka nor to Tamil Nadu, but to India as a whole.

Of course alternative supply source should be thought of. Whether it is the river linking projects, or receiving the old Chain Tank System or even harnessing sea water either through Reverse Osmosis technology or any other less expensive option. After all Sea water is the most abundant, and the entire Middle Eastern countries have successfully adopted it. There has to be research and studies, how a cost effective conversion of sea water could be possible. We live in a world of possibilities. All things are possible. As an advertisement says “It is only a phone call away" “phone call to whom, to God?” “No. To………(company’s name)

Then there are also the areas of water augmentation efforts. Tamil Nadu is better in efforts at rain harvesting, since ‘it is mandatory’ in Tamil Nadu. But same seriousness is not visible in Karnataka, where building permits are given without the express condition of rain harvesting arrangement while completing structures, whether residential or commercial. This efforts shall have a far reaching spin off like recharging ground water tables.

Desilting of dams and lakes in both states should be taken up on priority, since whatever capacity one can increase, of tanks, lakes and dams, they will all stand in good stead at times of crisis.

An efficient irrigation may be a sine- qua- non to address the water woes of both states. This issue has to be approached with open mind, without the ‘we know better’ attitude.

Stories of dry tanks being given away to real estate developers is not new. This must be stopped forthwith.

Preserving precious river water being wasted into the sea, is another very important area to be looked at, especially in Tamil Nadu. In Karnataka this problem exists, but not much can be done since it is beyond Western Ghat and in coastal districts. East of Western Ghat, where the Kaavery water sharing is the issue, this wastage into the sea is not affecting. Of course, discussion on the course correction of Netravathi, the west flowing river, is on. But, it may be against logic. It may sound like “robbing the Peter to pay Paul” that too less than what is lost, besides it can be environmentally not advisable.

Growing less-water-intensive-crops is another option all should consider in totality, not just to prove the point, but with complete objectivity, since the practice in place may be from times immemorial and has its own ‘raison d’être’.

If the minds of all stake holders are open to options, alternatives and solution to the problem may not be far. Of course the problem is only when there is shortfall in rain, which leads to incremental politics. Every time the monsoon fails, politics succeeds. That’s unfortunate but a fact of life. Indians need to outgrow this in the larger interest of Pan Indian concept. We are Indians first and last, and hence should not allow parochial politics of Kannadiga or Tamil, or Malayalee or Telugu. Yes we need to outgrow from our narrow mindedness and evolve as a responsible and responsive Indian citizen.

J.Shriyan  with inputs 

from Manasa Rao