kaveri river water dispute

cauvery (Kaveri) water dispute

Water means life, it came true when we realizes the scarcity of water. India where billions of people depends on agriculture but agriculture depends on water. We have various sources but still India largely depends on rivers. After independence and reorganization of state, water sharing become conflict due to growing population and vast needs of modern society so Article 262 of Indian Constitution provides Inter state river water disputes Act 1956 to regulate the control and distribution of inter-state water sharing. Under which Parliament can form Tribunal to resolve river water dispute among States and decision taken by Tribunal equivalent to Supreme Court Verdicts.

The third largest river of South India "Kaveri" which flows through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu involved in Cauvery water dispute since 19th century. In 1892 followed by 1924 princely state of Mysore and Madras Presidency signed the first agreement on use of Cauvery water with time period of 50 years under which 75% of Cauvery river water used by Tamil Nadu and Puducherry then 23% of water by Karnataka and rest by Kerala.

In 1960s Tamil Nadu opposed the construction of dam on Cauvery river because it restrict the flow of water to Tamil Nadu but during 1960s to 1980 Karnataka built four dam on Cauvery river.

The agreement of 1924 expired on 1974 leads to the beginning of dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Cauvery water dispute Tribunal formed in June 1990 to regulate the control and sharing of water but Tamil Nadu filed a petition in Supreme Court over the non implementation of order.

Following the court intervention the Cauvery water dispute tribunal gave final award in 2007 under which 270 tmc ft (thousand million cubic feet) of water to Karnataka, 419 tmc ft to Tamil Nadu, 30 tmc ft to Kerala, 7 tmc ft to Puducherry and 14 tmc ft reserved for environmental protection.

On 16 Feb 2018 Supreme Court ordered that Karnataka will get 284.75 tmc ft, Tamil Nadu will get 177.25 tmc ft, Kerala will get 30 tmc ft, Puducherry will get 7 tmc ft and 14 tmc ft will be reserved for environmental protection. To implement the order in ground level court also mandates to constitute the Cauvery Management Board, Cauvery water regulation committee.