The Supreme Court’s verdict in the Cauvery water sharing dispute has come as a mixed bag to farmers’ associations in the State. Whilst they are critical of the reduced quantum of water allocated to Tamil Nadu, the farmers see a ray of hope in the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and the apex court’s ruling that no State could claim exclusive right over any river.
Though the verdict has taken away 14.75 tmcft from the quantum of water that was sanctioned to Tamil Nadu by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal in its final award, the Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board and its emphasis on barring ownership of a river by any particular State go a long way in assuaging the feelings of Tamil Nadu farmers.
“The 15-year tenure for the operation of the verdict is laudable. The constitution of the Cauvery Management Board, coupled with the consequent water regulatory authority, could take the issue out of the political stranglehold, and in that sense, the apex court’s ruling is welcome,” said Mannargudi S. Ranganathan, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Cauvery Delta Farmers Welfare Association.
“It is no doubt disappointing that the quantum of our share has been reduced, but we are happy that the Cauvery Management Board will be constituted. The Board will ensure the release of Tamil Nadu’s share of water as per judicial orders,” said farmer-leader P. Ayyakannu. He said he expected that the order would force Karnataka to confine its cultivation area as specified in the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal. “We will stand to benefit from this,” he said, adding that it was also a matter of satisfaction that the Supreme Court had observed that the Cauvery water was a national asset, and no State can claim exclusive right over it.
Cauvery S. Dhanapalan, general secretary, Cauvery Farmers Protection Association, said the Supreme Court’s order would remain on paper unless the Cauvery Management Board was formed and the release of water was ensured on a daily basis.
