The adequate common referendum for water sharing has been eluding us since long. The issue is not well addressed by the authorities, has been the general feeling of the elite. Let us start with the Cauvery water sharing. Cauvery River Authority (CRA) headed by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on September 19, decided that Karnataka government would have to release 9,000 cusecs of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu till October 15.
Obeying the court's direction, the Karnataka government started releasing water to Tamil Nadu on September 29, but on Monday night Karnataka stopped the supply of water. Owing to internal pressures the state stopped the water supply and wanted the apex court to give a stay on the decision. On the other hand Tamil Nadu has decided to file a contempt petition in the Supreme Court today against the Karnataka government for stopping the supply of Cauvery river waters.
However this is not a sole instance when the inadequacy of the water sharing policy have been exposed. There is a similar war going on between Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh on the Godavari sharing. Godavari river has 126 km long storage area out of which 71 km is in Andhra Pradesh, while remaining 55 km is in Maharashtra.
And since Maharashtra is on a upper sea level it feels the water is running away to AP which is much below and hence wants to construct a dam. Shree Ram Sagar Dam project, under which Maharashtra is constructing a barrage at Babhali for increasing its storage capacity. Godavari water disputes tribunal (GWDT) governs the dispute but it is also ineffective.
The country as one base is uniformly affected with the all the vagaries of the economy, but the water sharing treaty as a common entity seems to be in for rough weather always. There must be a uniform policy that should provide adequate water to one and all. The export benefits of the Bengaluru IT sector bring in the more dollars, and the Kancheevaram sarees bring in rich dividends, similarly Ayurveda from Kerala and Haleem exports from Hyderabad do the same. Across the various unique add up their value to the economy chain and have an equi impact on the national economy in general.
And the incoming dollars controls the nation's economy to much extent. When the dollar is in abundance the rates of fuel and the yellow metal come down drastically. And the fruits of these endeavors are enjoyed equally by all the states. These are man made gains and enjoyed by all of us. Why this divide on nature blessed resources, especially water! (With inputs from internet-AW AarKay)
