Karnataka happy, TN ‘ shocked’
I would like to remind that the DMK regime, despite being part of the Congressled UPA, could not even get the tribunal’s final award published in the Central gazette. The judgment has partly allowed our appeal and has also taken the groundwater availability in the delta region of Tamil Nadu into consideration. SIDDARAMAIAH, Karnataka chief minister The AIADMK government has lost the rights that Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) achieved for Tamil Nadu. The state has been cheated. I urge Tamil Nadu chief minister to call an allparty meeting with farmers’ association. We needed more water for Bengaluru and the decision to ask the Centre to constitute a monitoring panel could go against us. But this is a welcome judgment. FALLOUT Opposition leaders blame AIADMK government for unfavourable SC decision
Decision may boost Cong chances in K’taka assembly poll later this year BENGALURU: For Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, the Cauvery verdict could not have come at a better time.
The Supreme Court’s decision to increase the state’s share of water, and provide special relief to capital Bengaluru is a relief for the senior Congress leader and might just boost his prospects in assembly elections later this year.
“The judgment has partly allowed our appeal and has also taken the groundwater availability in the delta region of Tamil Nadu into consideration. It has also changed the tribunal decision that only one-third of Bengaluru, which comes under the Cauvery basin, should get water,” Siddaramaiah said.
Karnataka irrigation minister MB Patil welcomed the decision but said t he state’s demands had only partially been met.
“The additional 4.75 thousand million cubic feet of water for Bengaluru will not suffice and we will consult with the legal team on the way forward.”
Former chief minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader BS Yeddyurappa called for a plan to utilise the increased quantum of water in a judicious manner.
“Supreme Court’s verdict on the Cauvery is welcome and will help our farmers and ease Bengaluru’s drinking water problem.”
Siddaramaiah, who joined the Congress in 2006, is vying for re-election on a plank of farmer welfare and overall development.
He faces the BJP and the Janata Dal (Secular), the party he left more than a decade ago.
The Cauvery basin accounts for 60 seats of the 224 seats in the assembly. The Congress won 30 of these in 2013.
Political analyst Narendar Pani, faculty at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, said the verdict was already being credited to Siddaramaiah’s stewardship. “The immediate impression is that Siddaramaiah managed to get Karnataka the increased quantum of water,” he said.
According to Pani, as the legal strategy belonged to the state, the Supreme Court decision will be seen as a victory of the government.
“Politically, it is a big victory for him as the Cauvery has a very emotive appeal in this area,” he added. in The 802km-long river, originating of Talacauvery in Kodagu district through Karnataka, flowing mainly isthe Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, largest river of southern India. According to legal language, state Karnataka is the upper riparian state and TN is the lower riparian
The British brokered an agreement, which was to be operative for 50 years. TN and Puducherry would get 75% of the surplus water while Karnataka would get 23%. The remaining would go to Kerala. There were also restrictions on how much land could be irrigated
The Cauvery Fact Finding Committee found that Tamil Nadu’s irrigated lands had grown from 1,440,000 acres to 2,580,000 acres while Karnataka’s irrigated area stood at 680,000 acres, resulting in an increased need of water for TN. Karnataka opposed this proposal
The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal holds the two British era agreements valid but all states filed clarificatory petitions in the SC
TN files contempt petition in the SC against Karnataka. CM Siddaramaiah refuses to implement the decision to release additional water
SC directs Karnataka to release 15,000 cusecs a day till Sept 15. Protests break out in Karnataka, which releases water and files a plea to the SC order
Karnataka seeks a reduction in the quantum of water it should release to TN
The Supreme Court reserved its judgment
The SC reduces Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery river water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet (tmcft), down from 192 tmcft allocated by a tribunal in 2007. CHENNAI: Opposition parties in Tamil Nadu attempted to turn up the heat on the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government on Friday after the Supreme Court reduced its share of Cauvery water but many experts, and farm community leaders, pointed out that the verdict held several positives for the southern state.
The main opposition party, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), urged chief minister E Palaniswami to hold an all-party meeting and sought his resignation. “The government had failed to retain even what water (DMK chief M) Karunanidhi had secured for the state,” party working president MK Stalin told media. “It was a shocking setback for Tamil Nadu (TN) , which is the result of the absolutely poor performance of the Tamil Nadu lawyers in the SC. The government must accept responsibility and resign,” said senior DMK leader Duraimurugan.
Filmstar-turned-politician Kamal Haasan said he was shocked at the reduction in TN’S share and called for farmers in both states to come together and form a “Cauvery family”. “Now we should not allow politicians to meddle in this and work out a solution with talks and negotiations,” said the actor, who is slated to launch his political party later this month.
His long-time screen rival and actor Rajinikanth, who has also announced his foray into politics, called the verdict disappointing. “Tamil Nadu government should take steps to file a review petition,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Palaniswami dismissed the criticism and said the reduction in allocation was disappointing but welcomed the formation of a water management board. “It is unfair to take into account the ground water level of Tamil Nadu to decide the quantum of water.”
His deputy, O Panneerselvam said the government will work diligently to get to farmers and people the 177.25 thousand million cubic feet of water apportioned by the Supreme Court.
“When did the DMK get us Cauvery water? I would like to remind that the DMK regime, despite being part of the Congress-led UPA, could not even get the tribunal’s final award published in the Central gazette,” Panneerselvam said, lauding former chief minister J Jayalalithaa for her “historic battle” over Cauvery water.
The strongest reactions came from the farming community, which feared an adverse impact on crops because of the reduced share of water. But many also expressed hope that they would finally receive water without long delays and reposed faith in the Sc-mandated river water management board.
“It is the failure of the TN government to present its case properly in the SC,” said C Nallaswamy, secretary of the Federation of Tamil Nadu Agriculturalists Association. But some farmers said they were ready to accept the verdict and only wanted Karnataka to keep up its end of the bargain.
“We welcome the judgment as it is for the first time that the SC has declared that the water is not the property of Karnataka and must be shared with others,” said P Ayyakannu, state vice-president of the Bharathiya Kisan Sangam, a farmers body in the state.
Since the final verdict by the Supreme Court of India on the Cauvery water sharing amounts to further affecting the livelihood of the farmers in the state of Tamil Nadu, it is very disappointing.