WHAT IS THE CORE ISSUE ?
Karnataka claims that the British-era agreement was not correct as it did not get its due share of water. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu believes that it needs the water to sustain extensive farming that has increased because of Karnataka’s commitment to providing sufficient water.
Karnataka wants to triple its water share from the river, that originates from Kodagu and flows through Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala, which means there Tamil Nadu’s portion will reduce.
FOR TIME LINE : http://www.thehindu.com/news/resources/cauvery-issue-timeline/article4714418.ece
The court’s intervention also exposes the helplessness of governments at the Centre in handling inter-State issues.
Cauvery Management Board = IS THE mechanism prescribed by the Tribunal in its final order for implementing its award.
Needed is a clearer appreciation of the fact that the entire water yield in the Cauvery basin is not enough to provide for the requirements of both States.
It is time for Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to take a hard look at their agricultural economies: the area under cultivation, the number of crops per year and the water-intensive nature of the crops. Unless these are adjusted to suit the water availability, such disputes will keep surfacing.
