Govt trying to work out water sharing

Permanent formula soon to tide over crises

With inter-state disputes over sharing of river waters on the rise, the Centre is working on a permanent distress sharing formula to tide over failure of rainfall or low storage in reservoirs.

Union Water Resources Secretary Shashi Shekhar, in his recent presentation to officials of the Prime Minister’s Office on water and related issues, stressed the need for a distress sharing formula in the event of low water storage in dams.

A comprehensive distress sharing formula taking into account rainfall, storage in reservoirs, drinking water needs, ground water table in river basin areas and cropping pattern, besides diversion of water by upper riparian states, is being prepared by the Ministry of Water Resources, a senior official of the Ministry told DH.

There is no distress sharing formula at present among states at loggerheads over sharing of water, but in crisis situations the Central Water Commission recommends sharing of available water among the states in dispute. “Instead of an ad hoc formula, the government wants permanent solutions based on scientific data,” said the official, adding that if required the relevant Act will be amended. If permanent distress sharing formula exists, needless litigation over sharing of water in crises could be avoided, the official noted.

“In a good rainfall year, there is no problem. Problems arise when there is deficient rainfall. We must be ready to tackle the situation when there is failure of rainfall,” he said.

The Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal (CWDT), in its final award on sharing Cauvery river water among Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, had suggested adopting a scientific method for collection of data of water, including rainfall in the catchment areas of rivers. Though the CWDT had said riparian states should share the water proportionately in distress years, it did not issue any guidelines for distress sharing. The draft National Water Framework Bill prepared by Ministry of Water Resources emphasises on resolving water disputes at an early stage through negotiations.