The recent SC order to release water to Tamil Nadu by Karnataka has lead to a huge uproar in Karnataka. Tamil Nadu has had to approach the SC repeatedly over the years for its rightful share of the water. Yesterday's order of the SC to constitute the Cauvery Management Board to look into the sharing of the Cauvery Water has come as a boon to the people of Tamil Nadu. It has been often been said and I reiterate, that Tamil Nadu does not have a river of its own and is dependent on the Cauvery for its agrarian needs.
The Cauvery delta region in TN today is a hub for corruption, especially with the river sand being mined for commercial exploitation. The politicians on either side are mostly only stoking the flames to keep their vote banks alive. It is in this context that one must see dispute, to try and remove the narrow prism of vote bank politics and look at it as an issue concerning people.
The SC has over the years ordered the CMs of the two states to sit together and chart out a mutually beneficial deal. It is however, not surprising that this hasn't happened in all these years. Water sharing is a bone of contention internationally as well. It has been a problem with Pakistan (Indus water dispute). Inspite of not having normal relations with our neighbouring country, we have managed to stick to the river sharing agreement. The waters of the Nile are shared between 10 countries and are based on a mutual agreement. Even countries like Jordan and Israel have agreed to share waters. Seen in this context, it is but a sad state of affairs that a mutually agreeable water sharing deal hasn't been worked out between Karnataka and TN.
The violence that has rocked Karnataka, especially with the attacks on the Tamil people living there has played out distastefully. Rogue elements which want to take advantage of the situation have done it and these incidents shall have to be looked at dispassionately by the people of both the states. Violence is never a solution. Perhaps, it is time for our leaders to go back to schools and relearn the chapter on Constitution, where it says that "India is a Union of States". We are one union. Healthy competition between the states is welcome but not violence and drama.
The situation calls for statesmen and not leaders.
The Cauvery delta region in TN today is a hub for corruption, especially with the river sand being mined for commercial exploitation. The politicians on either side are mostly only stoking the flames to keep their vote banks alive. It is in this context that one must see dispute, to try and remove the narrow prism of vote bank politics and look at it as an issue concerning people.
The SC has over the years ordered the CMs of the two states to sit together and chart out a mutually beneficial deal. It is however, not surprising that this hasn't happened in all these years. Water sharing is a bone of contention internationally as well. It has been a problem with Pakistan (Indus water dispute). Inspite of not having normal relations with our neighbouring country, we have managed to stick to the river sharing agreement. The waters of the Nile are shared between 10 countries and are based on a mutual agreement. Even countries like Jordan and Israel have agreed to share waters. Seen in this context, it is but a sad state of affairs that a mutually agreeable water sharing deal hasn't been worked out between Karnataka and TN.
The violence that has rocked Karnataka, especially with the attacks on the Tamil people living there has played out distastefully. Rogue elements which want to take advantage of the situation have done it and these incidents shall have to be looked at dispassionately by the people of both the states. Violence is never a solution. Perhaps, it is time for our leaders to go back to schools and relearn the chapter on Constitution, where it says that "India is a Union of States". We are one union. Healthy competition between the states is welcome but not violence and drama.
The situation calls for statesmen and not leaders.
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