Kaveri river water dispute is very sensitive issue between states of Karnataka and Tamil

Nadu.I will try my level best to address this issue without any bias.
What is the problem?
States of Karnataka (K), Kerala (M), Tamil Nadu (T) and Puduchery (P) are riparian states
of the river Kaveri,claims for water of Kaveri [6]
Karnataka (K): 425 billion ft
Tamil Nadu(T): 566 billion ft
Kerala (M) : 100 billion ft
Puduchery (P): 10 billion ft

Total requirement of the water by all these states comes around 1100 billion ft
but average estimated water available in the river is around 730 billion ft.

Kaveri water is very crucial for the states Karnataka & Tamil Nadu as most of

the farmers in the Kaveri delta dependent on the water. Considering the fact
that significant area of these regions of both the states comes under drought
prone area, water of Kaveri is very essential.
Approximately, 30% of the water river sources are in Tamil Nadu and 53%

are in Karnataka. Approximately 54% of the river basin area is in Tamil Nadu
and 42% is in Karnataka [5]. Since maximum water resources of Kaveri comes
under Karnataka, state wants to use the maximum extent of water. Since Tamil
Nadu has maximum river basin area and using the maximum water from
ancient time, claims for more water from Karnataka.
Whenever I look into facts of Kannadigas and Tamilians, I feel both Karnataka and Tamil
Nadu has some valid points in their arguments. What are their arguments.
What are Karnataka's Arguments ?

Karnataka has 42% of total Kaveri basin area but getting only 37% of total water

share. Hence water sharing formulas to be reviewed considering the river

catchment area into account. [1]
Karnataka should get even more share considering the fact that 63% of Kaveri

basin area of Karnataka comes under drought affected area, whereas only 29%
of the Kaveri basin of Tamil Nadu is drought affected.[2]
Giving water to Tamil Nadu at the cost of Karnataka farmers is not justifiable
during monsoon failed years.

Karnataka gets benefits from South western monsoon and it shares significant

amount of water with Tamil Nadu. Whereas Tamil Nadu gets good amount of
rainfall during North eastern monsoon which need not to be shared with
anyone. This is unfair.
What are Tamil Nadu's Arguments ?

From ancient times Tamil Nadu consumes maximum amount of Kaveri water.

Constructing the dam and using the water for new requirements hamper the
people who are dependent on the water resources. Karnataka should stop
diverting the water to new requirements.
Tamil Nadu has 70% of the geographical area of the Karnataka but it's

population is 120% of Karnataka. ( Population density of Karnataka: 319, Tamil

Nadu:555) Hence Tamil Nadu should get more water as most of these people
dependent on the water of Kaveri.[3]
1924 agreement is foundation to the development of key projects in both the

states therefore, it cannot be changed now as any such change will have
significant detrimental effects.[4]
Denying the water to Tamil Nadu just considering the farmers of Karnataka is

not correct. As a nation we should share the water in equitable manner to get
equal benefits to both of the states.
Arguments of both of these states are valid considering the fact that both of these states
dependent on the river. Let us analyse some more data before considering any action steps.
How water allocated and utilized?
As per the final guidelines of water tribunal, water get shared from the states as below.[6]
Tamil Nadu : 419 TMC
Karnataka : 270 TMC
Kerala : 30 TMC
Puduchery : 7 TMC

Utilization of water
Kaveri is one of the best utilized river in India. Almost 95% of the water get utilized. Major
portion of the water goes to irrigation (85% approx.) and some extent for drinking water
purposes (15%). Karnataka has major contribution in utilizing the water for drinking
purposes. For example Bangalore, Mandya etc.

Canals are main resources of irrigation in Kaveri districts.

1/4th of total food grains of Karnataka is grown in these area.

1/3rd of the rice cultivation of TN comes from these districts.

Mandya and Mysore utilizes most of the water in Karnataka. Similarly Tanjavur, Tiruvarur,
Nagapattinam and Erode districts of Tamil Nadu utilizes the maximum water for irrigation.

Major parts of these irrigated areas grow water intensive crops like
sugarcane and paddy.
How can we solve the problem ?

1. Reduce water intensive crops

Considering the fact that most of these Kaveri basin grows water intensive crops like Paddy
and Sugarcane which consumes huge amount of water. It is very good idea to gradually shift
from water intensive crops to oil seeds, pulses and millets can help to resolve the issue for
certain extent. [7] Also paddy varieties that use half the water per KG can be implemented.
SRI (System of Rice Intensification) method for agriculture of paddy helps to substantially
reduce the water consumption by improving yield. Government should try to encourage
such system in the river basin area.
2. Reduce dependency on agriculture
Contribution of of agriculture to Karnataka's GDP is approx. 16-18 % whereas 65% of people
dependent on it. That is similar in case of Tamil Nadu too. [8] That keeps farmers always
poor as lot of people dependent on very small portion of the income. Unavailability of the
water becomes very big issue as it is a matter of huge population.
Reducing this burden on agriculture by giving more opportunities to industry and service
sectors reduces the total number of farmers dependent on small piece of land. That helps to
introduce effective utilization of water in bigger farms.
3. Use technology and develop adaptive farming techniques.
Develop mathematical models to estimate the water availability in the river based on the
rain estimation of the particular year. Based on the details decide the particular crop/crops
to be grown in the particular area.
For example, if estimation says monsoon fails in the particular year then ask the farmers to
grow oil seeds, millets etc. If the monsoon is good ask to grow sugarcane , paddy etc.
4. Develop/Revive alternative water resources
Bangalore is one of the major consumer of drinking water from Kaveri river. Which can be
systematically addressed by reviving the lakes of Bangalore. Also reviving the rivers like
Arkavati etc will help to reduce the dependability of the river.
Similarly Tamil Nadu for instance had 40000 lakes in the year 1960. By the year 2000, it
had lost 10,000 lakes! That's a huge number of lakes lost to pollution, industrial waste and
encroachment. [5]

Conservation methods like rain water harvesting etc. can reduce the dependency of Kaveri
water upto 10%.
5. Give and take policies
Karnataka also facing similar problems with Maharashtra, where Karnataka gets water by
paying money.[10] Similar-way negotiations can be made between Karrnataka and Tamil
Nadu.
For example, Karnataka can ask for power (since it is facing lot of issues) from Tamil Nadu
for the for the water that is provided. Such policies helps to both of the states.
6. River linking projects
Linking the water access rivers to the river like would be one of the good idea as it increases
the water level of the river. Godavari Kaveri river linking is one of the proposed project.
However, actions to be taken considering the pros and cons of the project into
consideration.[11]

7. Conserve water
There are many ways to reduce the water usage in urban and rural areas. Even for irrigation
purposes. Introducing such effective methods helps to reduce the water usage.

8. Promotion of micro irrigation

Drip irrigation, Sprinkler irrigation etc. can be effectively implemented wherever possible.
Effective implimentation of recently launched PM Krishi Sichayi Yojna can reduce the
dependency on the water to great extent.
9. Creation of Kaveri water management board
Independent and integrated water management board with complete autonomy to water
sharing, water management, dam and reservoir management in the entire river basin would
help to de-politicization and efficient management of water.[12]
Conclusion:
Though Kaveri river water problem is a challenge, it can be effectively addressed by existing
technology and expertise. However the politicization of the issue posing very high difficulty
to bring change in the system.Political parties of both of the states using the issue as trump
card to get votes. In-order to effectively address the issue, it is very important to keep away
politics in the Kaveri river water problem.
Thank you for reading! We can resolve the problem peacefully. Damaging the
vehicle, troubling anyone is not a solution to the problem. Please, dont involve
yourself from such activities.