This post is about the kaveri river water dispute between the south Indian states of Karnataka and Tamilnadu
Pre Independence Scenario:
Mysore (current Karnataka - not ruled by British or India) needed to tide over frequent droughts. Dams were built to address the situation. Many acres of land were submerged in Mysore to the dam waters. But the Kingdom benefited from this. Money, land, labour was all provided by Mysore (not India, not British, not Tamil Nadu or the then Madras)
Kaveri does not generate water on its own – the water is collected from the catchment areas in Mysore during the rains.
Once the dam was built in Karnataka, vast areas of land which were earlier submerged downstream in Madras (now Tamilnadu), now came up. This was immediately reclaimed by Madras for agriculture. Due to proximity to British, it was able to extract a favorable ruling. (The same applies to Mula-periyar with which TN is fighting Kerala)
This meant all resources and foresight of Mysore for its prosperity and benefit was laid waste by Madras. Karnataka has one rain season from the SouthWest Monsoon whereas TN has two – one from NorthEast and other from SouthWest monsoon. ( http://www.tn.gov.in/crop/rainfall.htm )
Despite the two monsoons, why has TN not invested in building dams to store water in the Kaveri basin within its territory?
Simple, it needs money to be invested and also lands will be submerged within its area. So its better that Karnataka and Kerala build the dams with their money and lose their lands to provide water to TN.
The irony came to fore during the recent spate of floods – it accused Karnataka of releasing Kaveri waters causing more floods in TN. Common sense did not prevail to see that holding back a gushing river can cause a dam burst as well as flooding in Karnataka. So TN expects Karnataka to wag to its whimsies – hold water for us and release it as it pleases us.
The underlying point is – the Maharaja of Mysore blundered by deciding to merge with India.
The demography of India was widely different from Mysore.
Mysore/Karnataka had/has no problems – population density, illiteracy, higher education, civil administration, judiciary, social equality.
The result are for all to see. Pls refer to the site of Union Ministry of Statistics ( http://mospi.nic.in/6_gsdp_cur_9394ser.htm ) which confirms Karnataka growing at over 14% p.a. against the Union Of India’s growth of 9% p.a.
But history cannot be reversed and now we are part of the Union of India. Consider the industries – hi-tech or manufacturing or aviation – Karnataka beats the Union. But it suffers a body blow to its political aspirations because of less population – only 20 seats to the Union parliament.
Over the years, it has received step-motherly treatment vis-a-vis its populous neighbors.
Corporate earnings, service taxes and IT exports are filling the Union coffers with little coming back to the state.
Consider TNs clout – Finance, telecom, health – all with tamils. See the way Dayanidhi Maran is functioning – not as Telecom minister of the Union but of TN. Just see the no. of telecom projects he has diverted to TN at the expense of other states.
No matter what you call this, democracy as practised in India is flawed. It is more of mobocracy – vote-banks rules. The results are obvious, you have smaller states feeling a sense of alienation. If this sense of alienation and lack of political equality is not addressed, it will add to another to the list of problems the coutnry is facing today.”,1] ); //–>
Over the years, karnataka has received step-motherly treatment vis-a-vis its populous neighbors who are sending more representatives to the parliament of the country. Corporate earnings, service taxes and IT exports from Karnataka are filling the Union coffers with little coming back to the state.
Consider TNs clout – Finance, telecom, health – all with tamils. See the way Dayanidhi Maran is functioning – not as Telecom minister of the Union but of TN. Just see the no. of telecom projects he has diverted to TN at the expense of other states.
No matter what you call this, democracy as practised in India is flawed. It is more of mobocracy – vote-banks rules. The results are obvious, you have smaller states feeling a sense of alienation. If this sense of alienation and lack of political equality is not addressed, it will add to another to the list of problems the country is facing today.
Why cant India become a democracy in true terms like the United Kingdom and the USA. Let each state have equal representation in the upper house – say 4 seats per state. This will counterbalance the current advantage held by the populous states. Why cant we become the United States of India?
Once this happens, all such trivial disputes will be resolved amicably. If TN wants water cached on Karnataka land, let it pay a premium to get it (for maintaining the dam as well as for the lands submerged due to the dam as well for maintaining the catchment areas to feed the river). To meet its water needs, it needs to build dams in the catchment areas in its territory. Bullying its neighbours Karnataka (over Kaveri) and Kerala (over mula-periyar) is no way for a civilized state to behave. TN cannot expect to raise 3 crops a season when Karnataka farmers do not have water to grow a decent 2 crops to sustain their households.
Lastly the solution here is not denying any state the water it needs, but as a union of India, a proper planning where in all concerned states get required amount of water. Tamilnadu sends into the sea every year more water than what the tribunal awarded to it now. Why not build a dam in Tamilnadu and end the entire matter peacefully?
Build a dam in tamilnadu and both states get the water they require. Or else as devegowda suggested while he was the PM that if tamilnadu does not want to build a dam in their state, we will build another dam in karnataka solely to satisfy tamilnadu’s needs and the center will fund it. Karunanidhi didnt even agree to this proposal.
What does TN want? This is like saying you earn only as much as you want and still give me a share in your earnings to satisfy my needs. Why not instead say, let us both earn as much as we want.. for heaven’s sake build a dam? Please keep in mind that KRS was built by keeping in view the future requirements of Mysore state only not that of entire south India. Now if the dam has to supply water to 3-4 states then its catchment area has to increase accordingly or should be supported by additional dams.. any person with a common sense can understand this.”,1] ); //–>
Why cant India become a democracy in true terms like the United Kingdom and the USA. Let each state have equal representation in the upper house – say 4 seats per state. This will counterbalance the current advantage held by the populous states. Why cant we become the United States of India?
Once this happens, all such trivial disputes will be resolved amicably. If TN wants water cached on Karnataka land, let it pay a premium to get it (for maintaining the dam as well as for the lands submerged due to the dam as well for maintaining the catchment areas to feed the river). To meet its water needs, it needs to build dams in the catchment areas in its territory. Bullying its neighbours Karnataka (over Kaveri) and Kerala (over mula-periyar) is no way for a civilized state to behave. TN cannot expect to raise 3 crops a season when Karnataka farmers do not have water to grow a decent 2 crops to sustain their households.
Lastly the solution here is not denying any state the water it needs, but as a union of India, a proper planning where in all concerned states get required amount of water. Tamilnadu sends into the sea every year more water than what the tribunal awarded to it now. Why not build a dam in Tamilnadu and end the entire matter peacefully?
Build a dam in tamilnadu and both states get the water they require. Or else as devegowda suggested while he was the PM that if tamilnadu does not want to build a dam in their state, we will build another dam in karnataka solely to satisfy tamilnadu’s needs and the center will fund it. Karunanidhi didnt even agree to this proposal.
What does TN want? This is like saying you earn only as much as you want and still give me a share in your earnings to satisfy my needs. Why not instead say, let us both earn as much as we want.. for heaven’s sake build a dam? Please keep in mind that KRS was built by keeping in view the future requirements of Mysore state only not that of entire south India. Now if the dam has to supply water to 3-4 states then its catchment area has to increase accordingly or should be supported by additional dams.. any person with a common sense can understand this.
In 1990s when there was drought in karnataka and there was no water even to satisfy the local needs, still tamilnadu wanted karnataka to release water.. OK, but from where?
What would tamilnadu have done in a situation if Karnataka and Tamilnadu were neighbouring countries and not states?
Water is becoming a major problem in all parts of the world.. China-vietnam-korea are fighting over it.. israel-jordan are fighting over it.. india-paskitan are fighting over it.. india-bangladesh are fighting over it.. and probably india-china too if china goes ahead with its plans to divert brahmaputra….
Let us not create a situation where within the country itself we states fight amongst us by sticking to stupid and aggressive stands.. already we have enough in the form of naxals, maoists, ISI and what not.. let us not add more to it..
For heavens sake build a dam in tamilnadu and end the issue! Let common sense prevail.
In 1990s when there was drought in karnataka and there was no water even to satisfy the local needs, still tamilnadu wanted karnataka to release water.. OK, but from where?
What would tamilnadu have done in a situation if Karnataka and Tamilnadu were neighbouring countries and not states?
Water is becoming a major problem in all parts of the world.. China-vietnam-korea are fighting over it.. israel-jordan are fighting over it.. india-paskitan are fighting over it.. india-bangladesh are fighting over it.. and probably india-china too if china goes ahead with its plans to divert brahmaputra….
Let us not create a situation where within the country itself we states fight amongst us by sticking to stupid and aggressive stands.. already we have enough in the form of naxals, maoists, ISI and what not.. let us not add more to it..
For heavens sake build a dam in tamilnadu and end the issue! Let common sense prevail.
