Cauvery Dispute: Protests Intensify in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, All About Water Sharing & Legal Battles

Protests over the Cauvery water dispute intensified in Tamil Nadu on Sunday, with farmers in Trichy demanding the release of river water into their state while pro-Kannada outfits as well as farmers in Karnataka’s Mandya also continued to agitate.

The DMK said Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin is doing everything possible to handle the issue diplomatically even though the Karnataka government’s argument is that it does not have enough water to send to its neighbouring state.

“…Though their (Karnataka) argument is that there is a lack of water in Cauvery, at the same time Tamil Nadu is suffering as the delta farmers are totally dependent on agriculture… Tamil Nadu government is trying through legal process and, in all possible manner, seeking the support of the union government and jal shakti minister as well as coordinating through all possible sources to settle this issue amicably… our CM is very diplomatically handling this issue and we are hopeful that Tamil Nadu will get its due,” said DMK MP Tiruchi Siva.

Here is all you need to know about the latest developments:

1. The protests have intensified in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka as farmers in both states continued their agitation. Pro-Kannada outfits are also protesting over the Cauvery water sharing dispute alongside farmers. In fact, in Karnataka, farmers and organisations observing the ‘Mandya bandh’ have given a call for shutdown.
2. These pro-Kannada organisations have called for ‘Bengaluru Bandh’ on September 26. They appealed to schools, colleges, shopkeepers, owners of commercial establishments, factories, companies and transporters to support their call.
3. Reacting to the bandh call, Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar said, “The state government is committed to protecting the interest of the state. Yet, the opposition parties are giving a political dimension to the Cauvery issue.” He said the state government has made a representation to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) with regard to the release of water to Tamil Nadu.
4. The Karnataka government has said it will take all necessary steps to protect the interest of the people of the state and its farmers, by ensuring water for both crops and drinking water. “We have protected the interest of the farmers and people of the state and will continue to do so. Let those who want to do politics on the issue continue to do so,” Shivakumar said.
5. Amid protests in different parts of Karnataka and a call for a bandh, police have tightened security across the state. The protests erupted after the Supreme Court refused to interfere with orders of the CWMA and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directing the state to release 5,000 cusecs of water to neighbouring Tamil Nadu. There are protests in the Cauvery river basin districts of Mysuru, Mandya, Chamarajanagara, Ramanagara, Bengaluru and other parts of the state urging the state not to release water to Tamil Nadu. The agitation has spread to districts like Chitradurga, Ballari, Davangere, Koppal and Vijayapura.

What is the Congress-led Karnataka government’s solution?

The Karnataka government has pitched the Mekedatu balancing reservoir project as a solution to settle the Cauvery river water dispute between both states. It has also indicated that the state will initiate the process towards realising the project.

Shivakumar said: “Already, 3,000 to 3,500 cusecs of water is flowing to Tamil Nadu as it is, and along with this we will also try to protect the interest of the farmers and drinking water requirements, this is our firm commitment.”

He said the state water resources minister did not specify whether Karnataka will comply with the CWMA’s order or not. Asked if Karnataka was open to talks with Tamil Nadu, he said, “Not now… let’s see after the 15-day period is over. We have requested the Centre to intervene and hold talks between both states.”

As of now 3,000 to 3,500 cusecs water is flowing to Tamil Nadu, and inflow is around 8,000 cusecs. The Mekedatu balancing reservoir project came up during the proceedings in the SC as well. But Tamil Nadu, in the past, has orally said it should not be taken up while the previous state government had filed an affidavit regarding the project. Despite Rs 1,000 crore set aside for the project, work could not be taken up.

What has the Supreme Court and CWMA said?

The CWMA on September 18 asked Karnataka to continue releasing 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for another 15 days, after the CWRC made such a recommendation last week.

The SC, meanwhile, has rejected applications of both states. The court refused to interfere with orders of the CWMA and CWRC directing Karnataka to release 5,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, following which protests erupted in different parts of the state.

What is Karnataka’s position on water sharing?

Karnataka has maintained that it is not in a position to release water, taking into account its own requirement for drinking water and irrigation of standing crops in the Cauvery basin areas. There has been water scarcity due to deficit monsoon rains.

Karnataka had approached the apex court seeking a direction to the CWMA to reconsider its order to release 5,000 cusecs to Tamil Nadu. Before the top court pronounced its order, chief minister Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar called on union jal shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in Delhi and told him of the state’s inability to comply with the CWMA’s order.

Why are farmers in both states protesting?

Protests erupted following the SC ruling, with incensed farmers and pro-Kannada outfits in different parts of the state demanding that the state should defy the court order on water release. Mysuru, Mandya, Bengaluru and Chamarajanagara witnessed protests. The protesting farmers tried to block the highway in Chamarajanagara.

The Tamil Nadu government, meanwhile, ruled out any scope for parleys as sought by Karnataka, with state water resources minister Duraimurugan indicating that they will not compromise on its due share.

“There’s no scope for talks on the Cauvery issue, as parleys over the years did not yield any results,” Duraimurugan said. Farmers in the neighbouring state are also protesting over the water sharing dispute.

Why has the issue flared up yet again?

Karnataka has so far maintained that it will only be able to release river water into Tamil Nadu after taking into account their own needs for drinking water and irrigation. The state government has repeatedly stressed upon the fact that the monsoon-fed rain has been scarce this time, and water levels in reservoirs as dangerously low. This was after Tamil Nadu demanded the release of 24,000 cusecs of water from the state.

What is the history of the Cauvery dispute?

The Cauvery water sharing dispute has remained an emotive issue between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for long. Its roots can be traced to two agreements in 1892 and 1924 between the Madras Presidency and Kingdom of Mysore.

The Centre established the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) in June 1990 to address disagreements over water sharing capacity between Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and Puducherry. In 2018, the SC ruled on how much water should Karnataka keep and how much should it allot to Tamil Nadu. According to that ruling, Karnataka is to allot 177.25 TMC to Tamil Nadu in a ‘normal’ water year between June and May.

So, this year, Karnataka was to make available a total of 123.14 TMC from June to September. But in August, Tamil Nadu asked for 15,000 cusecs of water for 15 days. But the amount of water was reduced to 10,000 cusecs by the CWMA on August 11. The Stalin-led government has, however, alleged that Karnataka has not even released 10,000 cusecs.

(With PTI inputs)