The Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) has ordered the state of Karnataka to instantly release the remaining quantity of water to Tamil Nadu. The CWMA, however, called off discussions on the Mekedatu reservoir project, which sparked “strong protest” from Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.
What is the Cauvery Water Dispute?
This dispute includes three states: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka and one Union Territory, Puducherry. This disagreement traces back 150 years to the arbitration agreements of 1892 and 1924 between the old Madras presidency and Mysore. These agreements stated that the upper riparian state must seek permission from the lower riparian state before constructing any reservoir on the Cauvery river.
The History of the Dispute
Starting from 1974, Karnataka began rerouting water into its four newly constructed reservoirs, without acquiring consent from Tamil Nadu, leading to a heated conflict. To solve the issue, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was set up in 1990. It took 17 years to give the final order (in 2007) laying out how the water from the Cauvery should be distributed among the four riparian states under conventional rainfall scenarios. In periods of water scarcity, the water was to be distributed on a pro-rata basis.
Legal Developments and Court Orders
Following the CWDT’s decision, the government took six more years to notify the order in 2013. The order was contested in the Supreme Court (SC), which commanded Karnataka to release 12000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu, triggering protests within the state. In 2018, the SC announced the final verdict declaring the Cauvery a national asset and endorsing the water-sharing arrangements decided by the CWDT.
Water Allocation According to the Supreme Court
The Supreme Court ruled that Karnataka would receive 284.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft), Tamil Nadu 404.25 tmcft, Kerala 30 tmcft, and Puducherry 7 tmcft of water. The court also ordered the central government to notify the Cauvery Management Scheme. Subsequently, the ‘Cauvery Water Management Scheme’ was notified in June 2018, establishing the ‘Cauvery Water Management Authority’ and the ‘Cauvery Water Regulation Committee.’
The Controversial Mekedatu Reservoir Project
This project aims to store and supply drinking water for Bengaluru city while also generating around 400 megawatts (MW) of power. Despite Karnataka’s assurance that it would not impact the flow of water to Tamil Nadu, Tamil Nadu filed a case against the project in the Supreme Court in 2018. Tamil Nadu is against any project in the upper riparian unless sanctioned by the Supreme Court.
River Cauvery and Its Significance
Known as ‘Ponni’ in Tamil and often referred to as the Ganga of the south, the Cauvery river is the fourth largest in Southern India. It originates from Brahmagiri Hill in the Western Ghats in southwestern Karnataka, flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and drains into the Bay of Bengal via Pondicherry.
A Consensual Way Forward
For a workable solution, states should reverse their regional approach and instead focus on cooperation and coordination to avoid conflict. A lasting and environmentally friendly solution will require basin-level planning. Long-term strategies might include recharging the river through afforestation and river linking, increasing water use efficiency, promoting micro-irrigation, raising public awareness for prudent water use, and implementing water-smart strategies.
