Karnataka may have to balance drinking, irrigation needs

Karnataka may face a major challenge in supplying drinking water to the newly added areas in the Cauvery basin, including Bangalore and Mysore, as the stage is set to notify the Cauvery Water Dispute Tribunal’s final award on water sharing with Tamil Nadu and other riparian states.

As the State Government’s efforts to get more water from the Cauvery river for its drinking water purposes has failed in the Supreme Court, it is required to strike a balance between drinking water and  irrigation needs out of its share of 270 tmc feet of water. Karnataka had demanded 465 tmc feet water earlier.

Though the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, observed that drinking water should be the top priority, neither the apex court nor the Tribunal specified the quantum of water to be allocated for irrigation and drinking water purposes.  

The Karnataka Government informed the Centre that around 32 to 35 tmc feet water was required for drinking in the Cauvery basin areas, including Bangalore and Mysore, while the rest will be used up for agriculture. The demand for drinking water is steadily rising due to population growth.

The only ray of hope in the final award is that the State may irrigate up to 18.85 lakh acres with the lifting of the ceiling that only 11.2 lakh acres may be irrigated with Cauvery water, imposed by the Tribunal in its interim order in 1991.

Experts, however, point out that the State will find it difficult to meet the increased demand from the enhanced extent of land. The 18.85 lakh acres include an area of 3.44 lakh acres under irrigation prior to the colonial rule under an agreement between then Madras Presidency and the Maharaja of Mysore in 1924, 7.24 lakh acres additional land permitted to be irrigated under the 1924 agreement and 8.18 lakh acres considered for irrigation by the State since 1974 on the basis of availability of water.