Current state of the Cauvery River:
The Cauvery river is calm, bringing relief to both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Earlier in July, both states faced a potential water crisis, but rainfall in the second half of July changed the situation, bringing significant inflows to the river.
Tamil Nadu, initially facing a deficit, ended up receiving more than its mandated share of water for July and August, as per the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) award of 2007, modified by the Supreme Court in 2018.
The southwest monsoon, crucial for both states, yields 123.14 tmc ft of water for Tamil Nadu during the wettest period for Karnataka.
Historical data (1994-95 to 2023-24) shows that on 11 occasions, the water realised during June-September was below 100 tmc ft, against the required 123.14 tmc ft.
This indicates that distress occurs approximately once every three years.
The implementation of the CWDT’s final award involves the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC).
These bodies play a crucial role, especially during periods of distress.
The CWMA, unlike its predecessor, the Cauvery River Authority (which had high-level political involvement), is led by a full-time official and includes government officers from all relevant states and departments.
Performance of the CWMA and CWRC:
Despite constraints, the performance of the CWMA and CWRC in 2023-24 is considered satisfactory.
However, there is room for improvement, especially in terms of transparency.
Both bodies need to make their decisions public quickly and provide authentic information to avoid biases during crises.
Challenges for the CWMA:
The CWMA may face manpower shortages, and the Union Ministry of Jal Shakti should intervene if necessary.
The CWMA should consider expanding its membership to include non-official members
Such as farmers, environmentalists, and independent water experts, as seen in the Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board Act, which includes non-official directors.
Including environmentalists in the CWMA could help address environmental degradation in the Cauvery river, especially with climate change posing increasing challenges.
Given the trust deficit between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the involvement of a third party, such as the Union government, could be explored for executing projects like Mekedatu or hydroelectric projects upstream of the Mettur reservoir.
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