Today in Politics: CM Stalin Ramps Up Pressure on Karnataka Government Amid Cauvery Water Dispute
The longstanding Cauvery river water dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka has flared up once again. With the Congress-led Karnataka government's decision to release less water to Tamil Nadu than directed, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and DMK leader, M.K. Stalin, has voiced strong condemnation. In response, Stalin has announced an all-party meeting to discuss the next steps in this ongoing inter-state water conflict.
Current Water Levels and Dispute
As of Monday, Karnataka's four main dams hold a total of 75.586 TMC ft of water, while Tamil Nadu's Mettur reservoir contains only 13.808 TMC ft. Stalin accused Karnataka of betraying Tamil Nadu's farmers by not adhering to the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee's (CWRC) directive to release a set amount of water. Despite this, Karnataka's CM, Siddaramaiah, stated that his government would release 8,000 cusecs of water daily, which is less than the one TMC ft specified by the CWRC.
Historical Context
Historically, Tamil Nadu utilized about 602 TMC of the Cauvery river's total yield, leaving about 138 TMC for Karnataka until the early 20th century. In 1924, the construction of the Mettur dam led to an agreement between the two states, effective for 50 years, allowing Tamil Nadu to expand its agricultural area significantly. When the agreement expired in 1974, Karnataka argued that it restricted their agricultural development and began building reservoirs, sparking a dispute.
In 2007, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) issued an order that was later contested by both states in the Supreme Court. In 2018, the Supreme Court adjusted Karnataka's share, increasing it to 284.75 TMC ft and reducing Tamil Nadu's share slightly, while compensating with groundwater extraction rights. The court also established the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) and the CWRC to manage and resolve disputes.
SKM to Resume Farmer Protests
In other political developments, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), a coalition of farmer unions, has announced plans to resume their agitation for pending demands, including legal guarantees for minimum support prices (MSP) and loan waivers. The SKM intends to submit a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, seeking meetings with them between July 16 and July 18. While they have not planned another march to Delhi, they are organizing nationwide protests, citing BJP losses in rural constituencies as a consequence of the farmers' movement.
Congress Committee's Efforts in Himachal Pradesh
Meanwhile, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) continues its efforts to understand and rectify the reasons behind its defeat in Himachal Pradesh during the recent Lok Sabha elections. AICC leaders P L Punia and Rajani Patil will meet with local Congress leaders to investigate the factors contributing to the party's loss in all four of the state's seats. This is part of a broader initiative led by AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge to strengthen the party's grassroots connections.