Learning from Cauvery

Learning from Cauvery

Context:  

Supreme Court judgement on Cauvery water dispute highlights the role of water sharing issues on election outcomes

About the Judgement:

• The overall allocation of Karnataka was increased by 14.75 thousand million cubic feet (tmc ft) at the cost of Tamil Nadu.
• The enhanced allocation includes 4.75 tmc ft exclusively for drinking water requirements of Bengaluru.
• The increase and decrease have been worked out, keeping the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal’s final order of 2007 as the reference point.
• Except this modification, the verdict has essentially stuck to the final order.
• The court was unequivocal on the formulation of a scheme to implement the modified final order, and it asked the Centre to draft the scheme in six weeks.
• The scheme entails the creation of an implementation mechanism, called the Cauvery Management Board (CMB).

What have been the reactions?

• The judgement has brought joy in Karnataka
• However, it has brought disappointment among certain sections in Tamil Nadu
• Doubts have been expressed in Tamil Nadu on whether the Central government will see to it that the scheme is put in place within the given period as Karnataka goes to Assembly elections in a few months.
• This has been complemented with Karnataka Chief Minister reiterating his opposition to the idea of the CMB.

Water sharing Issues and election outcomes:

• Political leaders of both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu are under the impression that their position on the Cauvery dispute would determine their respective electoral fortunes.
• However, this is not certainly true
• For example, the success of the Congress in the 2013 Karnataka Assembly elections despite facilitating the notification of the final order in the gazette of the Central government barely three months before the polls cannot be explained

Way ahead:

• Competitive politics on matters concerning water are not confined only to Karnataka or Tamil Nadu politicians but the same exists in other parts of the country too. A classic example is that of Punjab.
• However, political leaders need to understand that their strident position on water do not guarantee victory in the elections
• Electoral outcomes are shaped by a combination of complex factors.
• It is time that water issues are de-politicised and political parties learn to see reason and respect the rule of law without getting carried away by electoral considerations.