Cauvery Water Dispute: Protests, Directives, and Challenges
In response to the directives from the Cauvery Regulatory Committee, farmer unions and pro-Kannada organizations have called for a Karnataka Bandh today, escalating the ongoing Cauvery water dispute. Here are the key points about the Cauvery water issue:
The Cauvery River flows through southern Indian states like Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and the Union Territory of Puducherry. This river has been at the center of a long-standing dispute over water sharing, commonly referred to as the Cauvery water dispute.
On February 16, 2018, the Supreme Court made a unanimous decision that reduced the annual water release from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu from 192 TMC (Thousand Million Cubic Feet) to 177.25 TMC. This decision also reduced Tamil Nadu’s share of water.
Following the court’s decision, the Indian government established the Cauvery Water Management Authority on June 1, 2018, to oversee the implementation of the Supreme Court’s ruling.
On August 14, the Tamil Nadu government approached the Supreme Court, requesting Karnataka to immediately release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of water from its reservoirs. Tamil Nadu argued that Karnataka should adhere to the release of 36.76 TMC of water for September 2023, as mandated by the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in 2007.
Karnataka, however, cited insufficient rainfall in the Cauvery catchment area, including parts of Kerala, which led to insufficient inflow into its reservoirs. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah explained that traditionally, Karnataka had willingly provided surplus water to Tamil Nadu, but this year’s adverse conditions prevented them from doing so.
When the matter reached the Supreme Court, it decided not to interfere with the directives issued by the Cauvery Water Management Authority and Cauvery Water Regulation Committee. These directives required Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu.
On September 18, the Cauvery Water Management Authority reaffirmed the need for Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for 15 days, in accordance with an earlier order from the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee on September 12.
However, officials have indicated that there may not be enough water to meet this requirement, given the current water supply situation.
Activists from the Karnataka Rakshana Vedike (KRV) held a protest in Bengaluru, expressing their opposition to the release of Cauvery River water to Tamil Nadu. They chanted slogans like “Cauvery Is Ours” during the protest.
Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah expressed disappointment with the recommendations of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee, which directed Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of Cauvery water from September 28 to October 15, 2023. He stated that Karnataka would challenge this order in the Supreme Court, emphasizing that they do not have sufficient water to release to Tamil Nadu.
The Cauvery water dispute continues to be a deeply sensitive and complex issue, with both states grappling over their respective shares of this vital resource. The ongoing protests and legal battles highlight the significance of finding a sustainable resolution to ensure equitable water sharing between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.