<p>The Centre is unlikely to constitute a Tribunal to resolve the dispute on sharing of the Pennaiyar river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p>Instead, it will ask the two states to resolve the issue amicably, since the water quantity involved is small. </p>.<p>“Two meetings were held for negotiations, but the dispute could not be resolved. We may give more opportunities to the two states to resolve it,” a senior official in the Jal Shakti ministry told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Setting up a Tribunal is a time-consuming process, especially if it involves small quantities of water, said a ministry official. Recently, the Supreme Court asked the ministry to clarify its position on Tamil Nadu’s demand for setting up an inter-state water dispute tribunal. The next data of hearing is December 14. </p>.<p><strong>Talks favoured</strong> </p>.<p>Karnataka has been arguing that the matter can be resolved through talks. It is building a dam across Markandeya river near Yargol village in Kolar district to provide drinking water to villages in Kolar, Malur and Bangarpet taluks.</p>.<p>The state has obtained all permissions to build the dam at a cost of Rs 240 crore.</p>.<p>However, objecting to the project, Tamil Nadu claims that since Markandeya river is a tributary of Pennaiyar, construction of a dam by Karnataka will obstruct natural flow downstream.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu says that since a large number of people in the state depend on Pennaiyar river for irrigation as well as drinking water purpose, the dam and the diversion of water would hit them hard.</p>.<p>It says building a reservoir to a tributary of Pennaiyar violates the inter-state water disputes Act.</p>.<p>The proposed dam diverts surplus waters of Varthur tank. Karnataka is also implementing a lift irrigation scheme at Yellamallappa Chetty lake and is working on a scheme to supply the water from Pennariyar in Thattanur to 160 tanks. On January 20, 2020, the union government had constituted a negotiation committee for the dispute. </p>
<p>The Centre is unlikely to constitute a Tribunal to resolve the dispute on sharing of the Pennaiyar river water between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.</p>.<p>Instead, it will ask the two states to resolve the issue amicably, since the water quantity involved is small. </p>.<p>“Two meetings were held for negotiations, but the dispute could not be resolved. We may give more opportunities to the two states to resolve it,” a senior official in the Jal Shakti ministry told <em>DH</em>.</p>.<p>Setting up a Tribunal is a time-consuming process, especially if it involves small quantities of water, said a ministry official. Recently, the Supreme Court asked the ministry to clarify its position on Tamil Nadu’s demand for setting up an inter-state water dispute tribunal. The next data of hearing is December 14. </p>.<p><strong>Talks favoured</strong> </p>.<p>Karnataka has been arguing that the matter can be resolved through talks. It is building a dam across Markandeya river near Yargol village in Kolar district to provide drinking water to villages in Kolar, Malur and Bangarpet taluks.</p>.<p>The state has obtained all permissions to build the dam at a cost of Rs 240 crore.</p>.<p>However, objecting to the project, Tamil Nadu claims that since Markandeya river is a tributary of Pennaiyar, construction of a dam by Karnataka will obstruct natural flow downstream.</p>.<p>Tamil Nadu says that since a large number of people in the state depend on Pennaiyar river for irrigation as well as drinking water purpose, the dam and the diversion of water would hit them hard.</p>.<p>It says building a reservoir to a tributary of Pennaiyar violates the inter-state water disputes Act.</p>.<p>The proposed dam diverts surplus waters of Varthur tank. Karnataka is also implementing a lift irrigation scheme at Yellamallappa Chetty lake and is working on a scheme to supply the water from Pennariyar in Thattanur to 160 tanks. On January 20, 2020, the union government had constituted a negotiation committee for the dispute. </p>
