Although Tamil Nadu’s share of Cauvery waters has been reduced by the Supreme Court, experts said it was possible to take advantage of the important recommendations made by the court for establishing a Cauvery Management Board.
In a statement, agriculture expert M.S. Swaminathan said the board should include eminent water technologists and agriculture specialists, and help ensure greater economy and equity in sharing the Cauvery water by managing demand and augmenting supply of river water. “All the Cauvery Basin States should reduce the demand for water by introducing cropping patterns requiring less water and by adopting drip irrigation and other water-saving techniques,” he said.
“This cropping system should pay attention to crops which are in demand in the market and which can enhance the income of farmers per unit of water,” he said.
Given the Supreme Court’s observation that there was scope for Tamil Nadu benefiting from its underutilised aquifer, he suggested that one method of augmentation was mandatory rainwater harvesting. “Since Tamil Nadu is a rain shadow region and water becomes available largely during the north-east monsoon period, there is scope for water harvesting and storage,” he said.
‘Timely release crucial’
Water expert S. Janakarajan, also president of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, told The Hindu that the demand for Cauvery water for irrigation purposes had grown over many times over the years.
“The reduction from 192 to 177.25 tmc is certainly disappointing. But, to me, these are mere numbers which have no big meaning.What is most important is to ensure the release of water from Karnataka’s reservoirs at the appropriate time, month-wise in August, September, October, January and February, which are crucial for farmers. Will Karnataka promise the release of 177.25 tmc periodically? Otherwise these numbers make no sense,” he said.
