- People living in the Southern states of India must have encountered several incidents of how the lifeline of the region, the Cauvery River, assumes importance whenever the Southwest monsoon is underwhelming. The significance of Cauvery water for two states, viz. Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, need no further elaboration, since the most precious element has always played a defining role in shaping the present and future of millions. Cauvery is a sacred and major river in South India that originates at Talakaveri in the Western Ghats of Karnataka and flows about 800 km into the Bay of Bengal. It not only provides precious water for drinking, farming, and power across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu but also holds cultural, traditional, and sensitive heritage for scores of people.
PC: Hindustan Times
- As natural development and growth occurred in commensurate with the modern-day innovations, inventions, and initiatives-driven outlook, the emphasis towards securing a consistent water source for satiating the parched land and people assumes tremendous importance. Mind you, India, though, has developed by leaps and bounds, riding piggyback on the revolutionary cutting-edge technologies on offer; our dependence on agriculture hasn’t abated much compared to stated objectives and/or expectations. We are aware that our concerted efforts to wean people invested in agriculture away into the manufacturing and services sectors haven’t been spectacular. We are still largely an agricultural-based economy with farmers being pivotal.
PC: The Hindu
- As such, our overreliance on monsoon rains to bail us out continues. This is the scenario across the country. Every government – both at the Centre and the States – formulates policies keeping the paramount interest of the farming community at large. Since monsoon rains play a significant role during the Kharif season, less-than-normal rains are bound to create turbulence across the country with a cascading effect percolating down to the variously associated economic activities. Coming back to the Cauvery water issue, when the crucial Southwest monsoon plays truant, the repercussions are bound to be felt all around. We know how the rains have been less benevolent this time around, and the Cauvery catchment areas have been severely affected.
PC: Urban Acres
- At the best of times, the Cauvery water issue has caused great turbulence since the upper state like Karnataka is expected to release water to the riparian states as per the formula adopted by the authorities. More than anything else, the Cauvery water is an extremely sensitive and emotional matter for all concerned. When monsoon rains are bountiful, the water seamlessly flows out, leaving everybody happy along the way. The situation turns stormy when monsoon rains are below normal, with the emotive issue taking precedence over everything else. Unfortunately, this year’s rains have been dismal, leaving reservoirs depleted and leaving the authorities grappling to tide over the crisis. Let’s hope the situation will not turn ugly.
