The Hindu : T.N.'s disappointment continues

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 07, 2003

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National

T.N.'s disappointment continues

By T. Ramakrishnan

CHENNAI AUG. 6 .When Tamil Nadu's seven-year-long wait for the framing of a scheme to implement the 1991 interim order of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal came to an end in the first week of August 1998, many hoped that the State would not have much difficulty in receiving its share of the Cauvery waters thereafter.

But, today, five years after the working of the Cauvery River Authority — CRA (which, under the scheme, was established with the Prime Minister as its chairperson and the Chief Ministers of the four basin States as members), their hopes stand belied.

The last two irrigation years (2001-02 and 2002-03) saw the State getting less water compared to the quantum of water prescribed by the Tribunal. More than this, the State's grouse is that as in the pre-CRA years, it did not receive its quota of water when needed and the CRA has done nothing to change the scenario.

Last year when the dispute reached a high point, the response of the Authority left Tamil Nadu in "sheer disappointment", say officials, experts and farmers. This is why many now feel that the Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's description of the CRA as a "toothless wonder" aptly characterises the efficacy of the forum.

Contending that the impasse over the finalisation of a distress-sharing formula is yet another example of the CRA's "ineffective functioning", the officials and experts say the two States have given their opinions on the formula issue and there seems to be little possibility of a meeting ground between them.

"So, let us accept the draft formula of the Central Water Commission till the Tribunal gives its final verdict (which is expected in a year)", argues an expert. Moreover, the proposed formula is to be made applicable only for a temporary period.

Echoing a similar opinion, S. Ranganathan, general secretary of the Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association, wonders why one should go into too much technicalities in finalising the formula, which is going to be adopted only in times of "distress" and that too for the time being. He suggests that when the CRA and the Monitoring Committee find the southwest monsoon playing truant, they should decide to impound all the flows in the reservoirs till the end of the monsoon and subsequently, the stored water can be distributed proportionately among the States. As Karnataka normally receives more flows during the southwest monsoon than Tamil Nadu, the flows can be stored in its reservoirs.

One official felt that the Monitoring Committee should hold its meetings more regularly and its strength enhanced.

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