While parts of northern Karnataka are witnessing violent protests over the Mahadayi Water Disputes Tribunal rejecting the Sate’s interim application, Karnataka Agriculture Prices Commission Chairman T.N. Prakash Kammaradi has mooted the idea of constituting a ‘Mahadayi Family’ on the lines of the ‘Cauvery Family’ comprising stakeholders of Karnataka and Goa for an amicable solution.
Taking lead
Dr. Prakash, who worked as a prominent member of the Cauvery Family that tried to familiarise farmers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu with the ground realities of each other’s States, has offered to take a lead in forming a Mahadayi Family in his individual capacity.
Speaking to The Hindu , he suggested the Mahadayi Family should have 10 to 12 members from each of the States, comprising farmers, experts, academics, fishermen, and the general public. They should help farmers visit all stakeholder States and learn the actual situation first hand. He also mooted the idea of seeking institutional support from Water and Land Management Institute and Centre for Multi-disciplinary Development Research, based in Dharwad, for the initiative. He said he was confident that it is possible to resolve the row over sharing of Mahadayi waters as it is related to sharing the surplus waters, unlike the Cauvery row where distress sharing is a complex issue.
Development economist and former director of both the Madras Institute of Development Studies and Institute of Development Studies (Mysuru) V.K. Nataraj, who was one of the driving forces behind the Cauvery Family, welcomed the proposal to form a Mahadayi Family. “The idea looks good. However, it requires huge effort to put in place such a system,” he observed.
Constituting Mahadayi Family comprising farmers, experts and academics, among others, from both States, and facilitating them to understand the ground realities in their States may help in finding an amicable solution.
T.N. Prakash,
Chairman of Karnataka Agriculture Prices Commission
