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Tamil Nadu's drought dries up K'Taka's Cauvery hopes

  • Tamil Nadu will be declared drought-hit, confirms CM O Panneerselvam.
  • CM also declared relief measures, including complete waiver of land tax for the farmers.
  • Supreme Court conducting day-to-day hearing to resolve Cauvery dispute.
Tamil Nadu to be declared drought hit

 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, O Panneerselvam, confirmed that the state will officially be declared as drought-hit due to the failure of northeast Monsoon. The CM also declared a number of relief measures, including complete waiver of land tax for the farmers of the state and ₹3 lakh compensation to each of the families of 17 farmers who committed suicide in last two months.

 

Impact on Karnataka and the Cauvery river dispute: 

 

Now, this official declaration can create further friction between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over the age-old Cauvery river dispute, and this time, Karnataka might be losing this round of the battle. 

 

The dispute that has its roots in the pre-independence era agreement turns into violent agitation in both the states during failure of the Monsoon that naturally reduces the water level of the river making it difficult for the two neighbouring states to share the water. 

 

The most recent case has been last year's agitation in Karnataka by the Pro-Kannada protestors who opposed the Supreme Court's directive to release water for Tamil Nadu. 

 

A weak Monsoon like the current one leaves the reservoirs in South Karnataka with less than required water making it difficult for the state to release water for Tamil Nadu. 

 

In fact, last year between August and September both these states witnessed agitations over Supreme Court's directives and Karnataka's reluctance to release water for the farmers of Tamil Nadu. 

 

In August, Tamil Nadu filed a Supreme Court petition seeking directive for Karnataka to release water to which CM Siddaramiah replied that the reservoirs do not have water leading to protests in Tamil Nadu.

 

Then in September, the Apex court ordered Karnataka to release water for 10 days to Tamil Nadu leading to violent agitation in Karnataka that brought the IT capital of India to a standstill. 

 

After the failed Monsoon, Karnataka ignored Supreme Court's directive twice, and the state CM Siddaramiah justified it on the ground that first, the state must meet south Karnataka's farmers need and drinking water need of metros including Bengaluru, and after that, there is no water left for Tamil Nadu. 

 

The failed Monsoon has not only impacted Tamil Nadu, but Karnataka is also facing its own difficulties due to no-show of rains. In fact, towards of the end of September last year, 68 taluks in 22 districts have been declared drought-hit by the state government including major areas in South Karnataka.

 

Till recently, owing to the drought situation in both the states the Supreme Court took a lenient approach but since the severity of drought in Tamil Nadu is alarming, the court on the first week of this year directed Karnataka to release 2,000 cusecs of water every day to Tamil Nadu until the next order and also, decided to conduct day-to-day hearing to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

 

The official declaration of Tamil Nadu being drought affected state by central government may further weaker Karnataka's case in front of the Supreme Court in the coming days. Hence, drying up its Cauvery hopes. 

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