Water Wars: Cauvery issue a hot potato since 1910

While there could be no ambiguity in the fact that the waters of River Cauvery that originates at Talakaveri in Karnataka and flows south and east through Karnataka and Tamil Nadu through the south eastern lowlands before emptying into the Bay of Bengal, is the lifeline for thousands of farmers who continue to live along its banks and has supported irrigated agriculture in the region for centuries, the glorious past of the river seems to have become its bane. 

Consider this — The first formal agreement on sharing the waters of Cauvery was framed on February 18, 1892, between the Madras Presidency and Mysore government after the Mysore government wanted to build new irrigation projects along the river. This had caused considerable anxiety to the Presidency whose subjects were dependent on Cauvery for irrigating their farmlands. The government of Madras then took up the case with Mysore and the two parties arrived at the Madras – Mysore Agreement of 1892. 

The earliest dispute over the water sharing agreement between these two states arose less than 20 years later in 1910 when the government of Mysore wanted to build a reservoir on the Cauvery at Kannambadi and sought consent of the Madras government which, as is the case now, refused to do so. This led to an arbitration and further arbitration leading to the next agreement more than 30 years later in 1924. Even this was disputed a few years later.   

A 100 years on, neither the situation nor the stands taken by the respective governments have changed. The dispute still rages on and the only difference is that Madras Presidency has now become the state of Tamil Nadu and Mysore Kingdom is now state of Karnataka. But, has nothing changed over the last 100 years? 

Back then, India was still a concept and the people living here were governed by a colonial power. Industrial revolution was, to most Indians, a mysterious bloodless revolution that made people richer and life simpler in the 17th and 18th centuries in Europe and beyond, while people on this side of the world were suffering from famines. 

Food production was of paramount importance and the farmer was seen as the only one who could bring about a change and they were aplenty in the Cauvery delta region of TN. The land here was fertile, the water was plentiful, and thus farming flourished. Over the decades, thanks to technology and better practices, agriculture flourished not just in the Cauvery delta but also in other parts of the country. And, the country went from being an importer to one of the largest exporters of farm products. 

Today, India ranks second in worldwide farm output, according to a report released by the Central Statistical Office (CSO) in the year 2013. Agriculture and allied sectors account for 14.5 per cent of the GDP and about 50 per cent of the total workforce and the country’s agriculture exports account run into several billions.    

And here’s the catch. Around 50 per cent of the workforce contributes to a little more than one tenth of the GDP. In comparison, over 27 per cent of the Indian population is employed in the Services sector whose contribution is 57 per cent of the country’s GDP, while manufacturing sector employs approximately 22 per cent of the population and contributes 26 per cent to the GDP (according to CSO). 

The fact is that today, farming as an occupation is no longer lucrative and is on a steady decline. Even the farmer would give up his traditional vocation and try something else if given a choice. Availability of water is not his primary concern but availability of cheap labour and the dipping prices of farm products are. 

During a visit to some of the villages in Madurai and Theni districts a few years ago, this writer had the opportunity to interact with scores of farmers who did not want their children and grandchildren to continue farming. They claimed that it was hard work and the availability of labour was so unpredictable. Many had already sold off a share of their fertile lands to real estate firms and moved to cities where their children pursued higher education or lived cushy lives. The few who remained were the ones who did not have such options. 

Yes, the Cauvery is the lifeline for thousands of farmers who live in the delta. But, over the years, farming as an occupation contributes so little to the GDP and provides lesser comforts to the individual while the rest of the workforce contributes more and reaps better benefits. 

While TN demands water for its farmers, Karnataka claims that it does not have enough even to satisfy the drinking water needs of its populace. Even while considering that such a demand seems a little farfetched, it is a fact that population has increased manifold in Karnataka over the past several decades increasing the demand for water. And, it is only bound to increase in the coming years.

The demand for water is bound to increase with the increase in population and unless a strategy to optimise and prioritise the usage of water is envisaged, more water conflicts are bound to arise not just between states but even in the international arena. 

Instead of engaging in legal tussles, state governments could plan on a two-tier strategy of making farming more efficient and sustainable and move industries and services sector to rural pockets as in today’s interconnected world, geography hardly matters as long as one is willing to spend on fibre optics. It will not just boost the GDP but also enhance quality of life in rural TN. 

When farmers deploy the best agricultural practices and put the available water to good use, their income is bound to increase. While every country needs to take care of its food demand when it comes to exports, wouldn’t it be better to export goods that yield higher returns? The agricultural practice in Israel is a classic example. More than half the land is desert and the climate and lack of water do not favour farming. Despite this, the country is a major exporter of fresh produce and a leader in agricultural technology. While farm workers constitute only about 4% of the country’s workforce, Israel produces 95% of its food demand. 

In comparison, the whole of TN, especially the delta region, gets bountiful rainfall and is blessed with fertile soil. If the available water is properly harvested and best agricultural practices are put to use, farm output could only soar with or without the water from Cauvery.  

When the number of families that depend on farming along the course of the Cauvery, whether they are in TN or Karnataka, dwindles, they would no longer constitute a significant vote bank and would thus drive the politicians away.