MAPPING LOWER CAUVERY DELTA
Why in the News?
- The lower Cauvery delta witnessed a decline as a rice cultivation hub, impacted by reduced water availability due to changes in water-sharing arrangements.
Highlights
- During the ‘green revolution,’ it shifted from a single-crop to a double-cropped region but reverted to a single rice-crop region by 2018-2019.
- Water supply challenges from the Cauvery, coupled with policy inadequacies, contributed to the change in crop patterns.
Cauvery River Water Dispute
Historical Background:
- Originating in Karnataka, the Cauvery Water Dispute involves Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, originating from agreements in 1892 and 1924.
- The Cauvery River traverses through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry, impacting their water dependency.
Soure: ToI
Chronology of the dispute:
- 1974: Dispute began when Karnataka started diverting water without Tamil Nadu consent.
- 1990:Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) was formed in response to Tamil Nadu’s 1986 appeal, providing the final award in 2007 ,stating water should be shared on pro-rata basis.
- 2018 : SC Judgement;
- Cauvery declared a “national asset,” emphasizing equality among riparian states.
- Reduction of Karnataka’s water release to Tamil Nadu
- Creation of Cauvery Management Board (CMB).
Water Allocation Criteria and Constitutional Provisions:
- Water sharing criteria depend on annual water flows, distinguishing between higher and equal/less availability.
- Article 262 empower Parliament to adjudicate interstate river disputes.
Government mitigation:
- Cauvery Water Management Scheme (CWMA) 2018:
- CWMA regulates water releases.
- Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) serves as the technical arm for data collection and implementation.
- Inter-State River Water Disputes (Amendment) Act, 2019:
- Proposed Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC) for amicable resolutions.
- Creation of a single Inter-State River Water Disputes Tribunal with set timelines.
- Decisions of the Tribunal deemed final and binding.
- Establishment of a national databank for river basins.