The Cauvery dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had been a pressing problem for both the states for several years. News of protests by farmers, actors and politicians staging hunger protests, exchange of barbs and statements from both governments used to be a regular affair that made headlines. The Government of Tamil Nadu had consistently fought for the formation of an independent authority to get its due share of water which the BJP government at the Centre did in 2018 by notifying the Cauvery Water Management Authority in the Gazette.
According to the orders of the CWMA, for the period from June 2019 to May 2020, Karnataka had to send 177.25 tmc of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu. However, the present Yediyurappa government has gone beyond with 275 TMC of Cauvery reaching Tamil Nadu. As a result, for more than 300 days, the water level in the Mettur Dam stood at not less than 100 ft. For the first time in 8 years, the Tamil Nadu government was able to open the gates of the Mettur Dam on the customary date of June 12. Prior to this, the dam was opened on June 12 in the year 2011.
Usually, the Tamil Nadu government had to plead through letters and meetings for the release of water so that the state’s farmers get their water for samba crop. This time, the BJP government in Karnataka released the water even before the Tamil Nadu government made the request.
However, none of the political parties like the DMK, VCK, NTK and MDMK, and their leaders Stalin, Thol. Thirumavalavan, Seeman and Vaiko, who never left an opportunity to pounce on the Centre and Karnataka for their politics, have remained silent on the matter or have looked the other way.
BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan had tweeted saying “9 TMC for June, 31 TMC for July and 40 TMC of Cauvery water has been released to Tamil Nadu as per the orders of Cauvery Water Management Authority. Why are those who disrespect the Prime Minister by releasing black balloons and black flags silent on this?”
ஜூன் மாத 9 டி.எம்.சி.
ஜூலை மாத 31 டி.எம்.சி40 டி.எம்.சி தண்ணீர் காவிரி மேலாண்மை வாரிய உத்திரவில் தமிழகத்திற்கு
திறந்து விடப்படுகிறது.கருப்பு பலூன், கொடி காட்டி
Sh @narendramodi ஐ அவமதித்த
கட்சிகள், தலைவர்கள் இதுபற்றி கண்டு கொள்ளாதது
ஏன்? @PMOIndia @BJP4TamilNadu— Vanathi Srinivasan (@VanathiBJP) June 12, 2020
As per the order of the CWMA, the Karnataka government had to release 700 cubic feet of water from Krishnarajasagar Dam and 1300 cubic feet from Kabini Dam on June 8. Accordingly, 2000 cubic feet of water was released with water flow rising from 1292 cubic feet per second to 1643 cubic feet per second on June 14.
There were times when the State government in Karnataka would delay the release of water till July or even August. The water released would only remain for samba cultivation and not for kuruvai (short term crops that are heavily water dependent). With the timely and adequate release of water by the Karnataka government, Tamil Nadu farmers can now go for both samba and kuruvai crops with irrigation covering an area of 5,22,400 acres.
Apart from this, the Tamil Nadu government under Edappadi K. Palaniswami, has announced that steps are being taken to fill 100 lakes along the shores of Cauvery and not let the excess water from monsoons drain into the sea.
The Palaniswami government in Tamil Nadu and the Yediyurappa government in Karnataka deserve credit along with the BJP government at the Centre for resolving what was once a thorn in the relationship between the two states. Both Mr. Palaniwami and Mr. Yediyurappa hailing from a farming background, have been able to prioritize the interest of farmers over politics.
Certainly, good times are ahead for Tamil Nadu farmers.