A dry spell along the Cauvery river, Pg9

Key Highlights:

• Farmers in Karnataka's Cauvery basin are facing water scarcity due to a deficient monsoon and low water levels in the Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir, which was at 109 ft against its 124.8-foot capacity.
• Tamil Nadu's Cauvery delta is also experiencing a water crisis, with low storage at the Mettur Dam impacting paddy cultivation during the Kuruvai and Samba seasons.
• The Cauvery Irrigation Advisory Committee in Karnataka decided to release canal water in only four rotational cycles to conserve reservoir storage.
• Karnataka appealed to the Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA) to reduce daily water releases to Tamil Nadu from 12,000 cusecs to 10,000 cusecs, citing potential drinking water shortages.
• The long-standing Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu has intensified amidst the distress year.
• Karnataka approved the Cauvery Stage VI drinking water project for Bengaluru, requiring an additional 6 TMC (thousand million cubic feet) of water annually to supply 500 MLD to approximately 30 lakh residents.

Detailed Insights:

• Many farmers in Karnataka's Cauvery basin chose to cultivate water-intensive crops like paddy and sugarcane despite official warnings about a predicted deficient monsoon.
• The Mettur Dam in Tamil Nadu was not opened on its customary date of June 12 this year due to poor inflows and low storage, leaving large tracts of paddy fields barren.
• The Cauvery delta, often called Tamil Nadu's "rice bowl," is economically dependent on agriculture, with its importance highlighted by its significant contribution to the state's paddy procurement.
• Groundwater levels are declining, and salinity ingress is increasing in the delta due to over-extraction for irrigation, making even borewell-dependent cultivation difficult.
• The Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and subsequent Supreme Court orders mandate specific water shares for riparian states, particularly during the southwest monsoon for paddy cultivation.
• Farmers in both states face severe financial distress from potential crop losses, leading to demands for agricultural loan waivers.
• Protests by farmers' organizations in Karnataka have been muted compared to previous years, with ruling party leaders reportedly discouraging demonstrations.
• During the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister emphasized protecting the legitimate rights of lower riparian states and livelihoods dependent on assured river flows.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Cauvery Water Dispute: A long-standing inter-state river water sharing conflict primarily between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, also involving Kerala and Puducherry.
• Cauvery Water Management Authority (CWMA): A central body established to implement the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and Supreme Court orders regarding water sharing.
• Krishna Raja Sagara (KRS) reservoir: A major dam across the Cauvery river in Karnataka, serving as a crucial source for irrigation and drinking water for several districts including Bengaluru.
• Mettur Dam: A large dam across the Cauvery river in Tamil Nadu, vital for irrigation in the Cauvery delta and a significant source of drinking water for multiple districts.
• Kuruvai, Samba, Thaladi: The three main paddy crop seasons in the Cauvery delta region of Tamil Nadu, each with distinct cultivation periods and water requirements.
• El Nino: A climate pattern characterized by unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean, often associated with deficient monsoon rainfall in India.