Cauvery Water Sharing

The Supreme Court has delivered its verdict on the sharing of the Cauvery water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Tamil Nadu’s share has been reduced, and this has caused great disappointment. While Tamil Nadu and Karnataka continue their conversation on the sharing of the Cauvery water, it would be useful to take advantage of the important recommendation made by the Supreme Court with respect to the speedy establishment of a Cauvery Management Board(CMB). This board should include eminent water technologists and agriculture specialists. In my view, such a management board can help to ensure greater economy and equity in the sharing of the Cauvery water, by directing attention to the following:

Demand management: All the Cauvery basin states should reduce the demand for water by introducing cropping patterns which require less water, and by adopting drip irrigation and other water-saving techniques. Such a 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.