Cauvery Water Dispute
Source: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
GS II: Governance
Overview
- News in Brief
- What is the Cauvery Water Dispute?
- Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)
- About Cauvery River
Why in the News?
The court mandated Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a 15-day period.
News in Brief
- On August 14, the Tamil Nadu government sought the Supreme Court’s intervention to make Karnataka immediately release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) from its reservoirs.
- Also to ensure the availability of the specified quantity of water at Biligundlu on the inter-State border for the remainder of the month.
- It also urged the Court to direct Karnataka to ensure the release of 36.76 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) stipulated for September 2023 as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT).
- Karnataka should release a total quantity of 177.25 TMC in a normal water year (June to May).
- 123.14 TMC is to be given during the period from June to September, southwest monsoon.
- This monsoon yields lower rainfall, and the Cauvery issue flared up.
How did the issue trigger?
- Whenever there’s a deficit in the Southwest Monsoon in the region, the Cauvery conflict between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka resurfaces.
- Quite recently, Tamil Nadu brought its case to the Supreme Court, requesting Karnataka to release 24,000 cubic feet per second (cusecs) of Cauvery water daily to support their standing crops.
- In response, the court directed Karnataka to release 10,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu for a 15-day period.
What is the Cauvery Water Dispute?
- The Cauvery Water Dispute is a long-standing and complex water-sharing conflict between the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- Kerala and Puducherry also have minor stakes in the issue.
- The dispute primarily revolves around the sharing of waters from the Cauvery River.
- The river originates in Karnataka and flows through Tamil Nadu before emptying into the Bay of Bengal.
How is the river Crucial for the states?
- The Cauvery River is a critical water source for both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, supporting irrigation, drinking water supply, and hydropower generation.
- The Cauvery River is considered one of the seven holy rivers in India.
- Kaveri basin is 81,155 sq km.
- Of which the river’s catchment area is about 34,273 sq km in Karnataka, 2,866 sq km in Kerala and the remaining 44,016 sq km in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.
Agreement History
- Colonial Era
- The dispute has its roots in agreements and treaties signed during British colonial rule.
- Mysore’s plans to revive the irrigation projects met with resistance from the Madras Presidency at the end of the 19th century.
- The 1892 agreements allocated water to the Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu) and the Princely State of Mysore (now Karnataka).
- H D. Griffin became the arbitrator
- In 1924 final agreement for the construction of the Krishnasagara Dam was approved.
- Clauses of the agreement were open to reconsideration at the expiry of 50 years from the date of its execution.
- Post Independence Negotiations
- In the late 1960s after the completion of 50 years, negotiations were going on.
- A decade-long negotiations were done without any final agreement.
- Court Interventions
- Government of India constituted the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) on June 2, 1990.
- Interim order directing the State of Karnataka to release water from its reservoir in Karnataka in a water year.
- 205 million cubic feet (TalMC) of water to be released to the Mettur reservoir in Tamil Nadu.
- This should be either a monthly or a weekly assessment.
- In February 2007, the CWDT issued its final award, detailing water allocations among the four states in the Cauvery basin based on an overall availability of 740 TMC in a typical year.
- Karnataka and Tamil Nadu expressed discontent with the tribunal’s judgement.
- In 2018 Supreme Court declared the Cauvery River a national resource and upheld the water-sharing arrangements determined by the CWDT.
What is the recent issue?
- There has been a recent controversy surrounding the release of water by Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.
- Tamil Nadu requested the release of 10,000 cusecs of water over 15 days.
- Karnataka proposed a lower limit of 8,000 cusecs for the same duration due to a decrease in rainfall in the Cauvery catchment.
- Kodagu, where the Cauvery River originates, experienced a 44% rainfall deficit from June to August, which worsened the situation.
- To resolve the issue, Tamil Nadu approached the Supreme Court for help in ensuring that Karnataka releases 24,000 cusecs of water from its reservoir.
- However, Karnataka argued that Tamil Nadu failed to recognize that 2023 is a distressed water year rather than a normal water year.
Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT)
- The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) is a judicial body established by the Government of India.
- Aims to adjudicate and resolve the water-sharing dispute related to the Cauvery River among the states of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry (formerly Pondicherry).
- The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal remains a key institution in managing and resolving the water-sharing conflict among the Cauvery basin states.
- It aims to strike a balance between the needs of the riparian states and the equitable distribution of this vital natural resource.
Key points about the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal
- Establishment
- The CWDT was constituted on June 2, 1990, under the Inter-State River Water Disputes Act of 1956.
- The Act empowers the Indian government to set up tribunals to resolve disputes over the sharing of river waters between states.
- Composition
- The tribunal is typically composed of a chairman and other members with expertise in relevant fields, such as water resources engineering, agriculture, and law.
- The chairman is usually a retired judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- Mandate
- The primary mandate of the CWDT is to determine the water-sharing arrangement among the Cauvery basin states.
- It assesses the availability of water, the needs of each state, and the equitable allocation of water resources.
- Functions
- The CWDT conducts hearings, collects data, and examines evidence presented by the concerned states.
- It then formulates recommendations and a final award that outlines the water-sharing formula to be followed during normal years and distress years.
- Interim Orders
- While the tribunal deliberates on the dispute, it can issue interim orders to regulate water releases.
- These interim orders are designed to prevent conflicts and ensure that each state receives its allocated share of water.
- Challenges
- Resolving the Cauvery water dispute has proven to be challenging due to the changing water availability, the needs of the riparian states, and the emotive nature of the issue.
- The tribunal’s recommendations and orders have been met with protests and legal challenges.
- Supreme Court Appeals
- The final award of the CWDT can be challenged in the Supreme Court of India by any of the disputing parties.
- Over the years, the Supreme Court has played a significant role in interpreting and enforcing the tribunal’s decisions.
About Cauvery River
- Origin
- The Kaveri River or Cauvery River originates in the Brahmagiri Hills of the Western Ghats in Karnataka.
- It is formed by the confluence of two small streams, the Bhavani and the Amravati.
- Course
- The river flows eastward through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and a small part of Kerala.
- It covers a total distance of approximately 800 kilometres (500 miles) before reaching the Bay of Bengal.
- Tributaries
- The Kaveri River has several tributaries, including the Kabini River, Hemavati River, Shimsha River, Arkavathy River, and the Moyar River.
- These tributaries contribute to the river’s flow and are important for irrigation and water supply.
- Importance
- The Kaveri River is of immense significance to the region.
- It serves as a major source of water for irrigation, agriculture, and drinking water supply for millions of people in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
- It also supports hydropower generation and sustains the livelihoods of farmers.
- Cauvery Basin
- The basin of the Kaveri River is known as the Cauvery Basin.
- It covers parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry.
- The river and its tributaries provide water for irrigation in this agriculturally productive region.
- Wildlife
- The Kaveri River basin is home to diverse flora and fauna.
- It supports several wildlife sanctuaries and national parks, including the Bandipur National Park and Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka and the Mudumalai National Park in Tamil Nadu.
- Religious Significance
- The river is considered sacred by many and is associated with numerous temples and religious rituals in the region.
- The town of Talakaveri in Karnataka is believed to be the source of the river and is a place of religious importance.
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