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Business News/ Politics / Policy/  Cauvery issue can be put to rest in a year, says MB Patil
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Cauvery issue can be put to rest in a year, says MB Patil

Karnataka water resource minister M.B. Patil said the state wants to ensure all river disputes are sensitively handled

Karnataka water resource minister M.B. Patil says even the expert committee has said that Tamil Nadu does not have proper canal systems, resulting in a lot of wastage of water. Photo: HTPremium
Karnataka water resource minister M.B. Patil says even the expert committee has said that Tamil Nadu does not have proper canal systems, resulting in a lot of wastage of water. Photo: HT

Bengaluru: Karnataka’s water trouble, it seems, never comes to an end. Whether it be Mahadayi or Cauvery or Krishna rivers, water has ruled passions in the state for decades—more so this year, with prolonged dry spells leaving the state parched and crops destroyed.

The Siddaramaiah-led Congress government, which is facing extreme pressure due to multiple unfavourable court orders last month, also has the rare chance to put an end to two major water disputes before its term ends in 2018—Cauvery and Mahadayi.

In an interview with Mint, M.B. Patil, Karnataka minister for major and medium irrigation and water resources, said the state is leaving no stone unturned to ensure all river disputes are sensitively handled. Edited excerpts:

Are water disputes the biggest challenge for this government?

Water is an issue not only in Karnataka, but in other states as well. The issue will be around till there is equitable distribution and finality; once this happens, it will be smooth sailing and we can plan our usage. Until that happens, we are bound to have these issues and challenges. Be it Krishna, Mahadayi or Cauvery.

For Cauvery, the 1924 feudal agreement between Mysore and Madras—which was reached at before Independence—should not be valid. The award was faulty for many reasons and we have challenged it.

It says that two-thirds of Bengaluru gets no water as it’s outside the (Cauvery basin). We have tried to remind the tribunal that in Telugu-Ganga project, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra have given 5 tmcft each from Krishna basin for Madras (now Chennai).

Now the hearing has started on maintainability. The government of India is saying that the tribunal order is final and the Supreme Court has no powers. Fali S. Nariman is saying that under Article 262 (SC nor any other court shall exercise jurisdiction in water disputes), but we are going by Article 136 ( SC may, in its discretion, grant special leave to appeal from any judgment, decree, determination, sentence or order in any cause or matter passed or made by any court or tribunal in the territory of India). We hope that our special leave petition (SLP) is maintainable.

Does this government have the opportunity to put an end to the Cauvery dispute before the 2018 elections?

The hearing is going on. The SC will hear if the petition can be accepted since it challenges a tribunal order. We hope that we succeed and there is justice for everybody. Whatever is due to us and whatever is due to Tamil Nadu should be done accordingly. We do not want to spoil neighbouring relations.

After maintainability, there will be multiple hearings and may take six months to a year. I am hopeful and confident that in the next one year, we can put this issue to rest.

How will farmers be affected with the proposed regulations on crop area?

In Karnataka, we have multi-crops. Tamil Nadu does not grow anything other than paddy. They also have to change the cropping pattern. When there is enough water, you go for paddy but otherwise go for alternate cropping for more water efficiency. The onus is on them (Tamil Nadu).

With technology improving, they have to find out new ways. Even the expert committee has said that Tamil Nadu does not have proper canal systems, resulting in a lot of wastage of water.

Farmers in both states will have to bring in best practices like micro-irrigation, effective judicial use of water and reuse of water.

Has Karnataka made an effort to reach out to Tamil Nadu earlier?

No, that has not happened earlier. But I will be visiting (Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa) next week on behalf of the chief minister to keep the relationship strong. We want to wish her a speedy recovery and are hoping that the people of Tamil Nadu will see that despite the Cauvery issue, the Karnataka CM has sent an emissary to wish well for their CM. There is no plan to meet anyone else there, since it’s the first meeting which will be of goodwill.

What role will water play in the next election manifesto?

Everywhere water is scarce and population is growing. We get 1,000’s of tmcft of water but we never calculate where it goes. We hardly have treatment plants; in Belgaum, there is no sewerage treatment plant (STP); in Bengaluru also it is insufficient. Prime Minister in NITI Aayog should start thinking about reuse of water for agricultural purposes. We have to use better techniques, drip irrigation, sprinklers, water measuring equipments and educate farmers, industries and people on it.

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Published: 26 Oct 2016, 11:55 AM IST
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