Again the Kaveri dispute erupted between Karnataka and Tamilnadu

The sleeping Karnataka Government has finally awakened to the happenings in Kaveri basin of Tamil Nadu. Karnataka and Tamilnadu are traditional foes when it comes to sharing of Kaveri river water. Again the Kaveri dispute has erupted between Karnataka  and Tamilnadu.This issue  pertains to the use of surplus cauvery water in Tamilnadu. Now Tamil Nadu has proposed a project by building a canal  from Kaveri river  to connect Vaigai river, vellar river and gundara river. These rivers are tributaries of Kaveri. Tamilnadu Government cannot take a decision on its own for utilising surplus cauvery water. It has to go before the tribunal for awarding surplus water. But now Tamil Nadu has taken an unilateral decision on its own without consulting upper riparian state that is Karnataka. Now Karnataka wants to fight it out both legally and politically.

Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa complained  to the central government asking them not to  allow Tamilnadu to go ahead with this project as it would affect the Karnataka state interest. Tamil Nadu wants to utilise 45 TMC ft of Kaveri surplus water in violation of the the  inter state water dispute act. Karnataka will also approach the supreme court about this illegal project being undertaken by the the Tamilnadu Government. As per the act, even the surplus water has to be allocated by the tribunal only. As the surplus water has not been shared between both the states officially, hence Karnataka state is raging legal and political war against Tamil Nadu.

Karnataka Government recently taken this decision after a meeting with the legal experts and irrigation experts when Tamil Nadu chief minister EK  Palaniswamy recently  laid the foundation stone for the first phase of 14400 crore rupee project in a hurry for running to assembly elections. Karnataka explorerd many options after Tamill Nadu claim of excess water. It may also consider starting a new project  in Kaveri basin to claim excess water flowing in the river. Karnataka may think of a similar project and constitute a committee to draw a master plan.

Karnataka is already proposed Mekedatu project to utilise 65 TMC ft of water. This is for drinking water facilities for Bengaluru city and its surrounding places along with an hydro power station exclusively for Bengaluru. Kaveri  tribunal award issued in 2007 and supreme court's 2018 order on the interstate row did not cover the issue of surplus water and this has resulted in Tamilnadu taking unilateral decision. This resulted in creation of a new issue between the two States. As per the supreme court order Tamil Nadu gets 415 tmcft and Karnataka 270 tmcft. But it has not spelt out what to do about the excess water. There is no clarity on this issue whereas Krishna water dispute tribunal clarified on the share of surplus water. This is the main cause for the war between these two States. So, now supreme court has to clarify the sharing of excess water in  Kaveri river. But it can also ask the centre to refer the matter to a common tribunal.

Karnataka state legal experts says that the verdict is in the favour of Karnataka and hence Karnataka has got all the rights to use the surplus water available in its territory. Karnataka has drawnup a panel of legal experts to deal with this situation. People are only expecting that Karnataka Government has two fight the case in true spirit and properly present it in supreme court  to get its due share.