With Karnataka once again at loggerheads with Tamil Nadu over release of Cauvery water, farmers’ leader and president of the Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha, K.S. Puttannaiah suggests there can be an amicable solution to the dispute if it is dealt with more humanely. He believes the Supreme Court should constitute a committee, especially during times of distress like the present, to study the situation in both states and resolve the issue through mutual talks.
Excerpts from an interview:
How serious is the drought in the Cauvery basin this year?
It is very serious. Usually drought lasts for six months, but if the rains fail this time, the drought would have lasted for two and a half years. We have faced such a situation only four of five times since Independence. We farmers provide food for 127 crore people of the nation. But what is the government doing to protect farmers from drought? Farmers have taken loans, and invested in cultivation. Over 12 lakh acres of agricultural land has been cultivated in the Cauvery catchment area. But if they do not provide water for irrigation this year owing to the Cauvery dispute, farmers will incur a loss of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per acre. How will the government protect them? Farmers are caught in a mess of private moneylenders, the government, the Cauvery dispute and crop loss. The most suicides are reported among farmers, whose arrears are not being cleared by industries. So the government must in co-ordination with the Reserve bank evolve a fiscal policy to handle drought. There has to be political will for this.
Why do farmers grow water-intensive crops like paddy or sugarcane even in times of distress?
The government gives license to 63 sugar industries and declares 20,000 to 30,000 acres of land for each as reserved area for growing sugarcane. They need rice, so they declare a paddy area. We are not responsible for this. It is the Agriculture University and Agriculture Ministry which are responsible Where is the planning? Do we calculate how much we need to export and import, or decide on the production of vegetables needed, or what kind of crop pattern we should follow? Have they told us what kind of crops to grow?
But except for KRS, all other dams are getting good inflow this year.
Not true. If there was good inflow in all other reservoirs, there would not have been any problem.
But considering past experience, Karnataka may have to release water to Tamil Nadu this time too.
We have monsoon from June to December and if it fails the rift between both states widens. They (TN) have two monsoons from June to November when they grow Kuruvai crops, and again from November to March, when they grow Samba crops. At least Tamil Nadu can still hope to get rain, but we don't have any hope left at all. In a federal system we can’t refuse to release water. But when we do not have enough for ourselves it is not fair on their part to ask us for it.
Then how can we find an amicable solution to the Cauvery crisis?
If there is water upstream it can be released, so excess water should be stored upstream. The Supreme Court must constitute a committee especially during periods of distress like the present, to study how much of water is reaching Bangala kolli and the rainfall in both states, or the issue should be resolved through mutual talks. In America, an over-dam has been constructed and four states share water through mutual talks.
How can farmers fight the drought?
In 1354, there was drought for 90 years. It can happen now also. Over 25 to 30 years ago, we used to get heavy rain. Now where is the rain? We destroy mountains and hills, we extract earth and cut trees. In the name of modernity and urbanisation, we have caused an increase in carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide in the atmosphere. All this is affecting rain. There has to be better planning for agriculture and the crop pattern for 10 years with the government giving priority to saving water, electricity, and protecting the soil. It should tell us what we should grow.
Should the Karnataka government create small tanks linking big reservoirs like KRS and store more water?
Yes, lakes must be protected. Ground water should become a priority sector.
Why has the Karnataka Raitha Sangha not educated farmers on water use or switching to other crops?
We have been educating farmers on integrated farming and natural farming to protect the soil. As much as 75 percent of the water can be saved with natural farming. We do discuss these issues. But we can only convey what needs to be done. It is the government which needs to act.
What if the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee comes into existence?
It will be a problem for the state as it will only regulate us. What we need is a committee which can assess the situation of the upper and lower terrain and come out with a “live and let live formula.”
