Cauvery Continues to be a Perennial Woe for Karnataka

The normal life in Bengaluru, the headquarters of Karnataka and the adjoining Ramanagar district headquarters was paralyzed following a Bundh call from the Kannada protagonists and a host of farmers and other organizations. By and large, the protest against the state government over the release of 5,000 cusecs of water from the KRS Dam to Tamil Nadu was peaceful but for some untoward incidents.

Crux of the problem: The Cauvery Delta region consisting of the Mysuru, Mandya, Ramanagar, Bengaluru Rural and Bengaluru Urban districts among many a other becomes volatile whenever the issue of the Cauvery river water distribution issue aggravates. This time around, the direction of the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) for Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days happens to be the crux of the problem.

Karnataka attempts foiled: Interestingly the Government of Karnataka tried in vain to violate the CWMA’s directive over the issue of releasing the water. It tried to petition the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) on the CWMA directive. However, the Tribunal stood by the stance of the CWMA and issued a direction to Karnataka to adhere to the same. Out of desperation, the Karnataka Government even tried in vain for a SOS plea at the Supreme Court while the latter preferred not to intervene on the issue.

Controversial structure since inception: The Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) Dam which continues to remain the bone of contention whenever the issue of distribution of water to Tamil Nadu crops up is situated in the Mandya district. Thanks to the visionary Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya, Deewan of the erstwhile King of Mysuru Nalmadi Krishnaraj Wadiyar dynasty, the KRS Dam came into being but not without any controversy. For then being in the Madras Presidency, the Mysuru kingdom faced stiff opposition from the neighbouring Tamil Nadu region over the construction of the same. But the Dam water despite being a lifeline to farmers of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and a major source of drinking water to the ever-spreading Bengaluru city is always at the receiving end for no fault of it!

Water level not highlighted: KRS Dam when full has a total capacity of storage level to the extent of 124.81 feet. But, now the present storage level is 96.7 feet. Thanks to an unfriendly rainy season, there is a long way to go for the Dam to become full. In the given situation, the authorities are in no position to provide a proper quantum of water for drinking purposes to the dependent regions and forget to make it available for irrigation purposes. Many areas of the Bengaluru city continue to be deprived of Cauvery water for drinking purposes. Although, the state is overburdened with such odds all along the state government machinery has miserably failed in bringing the ground situation to the notice of all concerned.

A political solution only way out: The paradoxical factor about Cauvery is that Karnataka has to release water to Tamil Nadu, whether required or not when the Dam is full. But there is no fair play or parameter on releasing water when the Dam itself is deprived of enough water for storage. In the given circumstances, the only possible and viable solution appears to be a political one and rather than being dependent upon various committees/authorities/tribunals and courts.

-Manohar Yadavatti

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