Warning that farmers of north Karnataka would be forced to take things into their own hands and intensify their agitation if they did not get justice, Mr Vijay Kulkarni, president of the Kalasa Banduri Horata Samiti, blamed the Siddaramaiah government in an interview with DC for failing to present a strong case before the Mahadayi tribunal, which recently ruled against the state's interests in its interim order. Excerpts from the interview.
Why do you think the Mahadayi tribunal rejected Karnataka's plea for 7.56 tmc water in its interim order?
The judge rejected our interim application as he was not clear about how the state intended to divert water from the Mahadayi river. Karnataka’s advocates miserably failed to explain things in the affidavit filed before the tribunal. They had to inform it that water would be diverted from the Mahadayi river to the Malaprabha river through its Kalasa and Banduri tributaries via two separate jack-wells. It is possible to divert the water to the Malaprabha river and build the jack-wells without impacting the environment.
Do you believe the state government is misleading people on its legal battle?
The state government has argued the case for supply of 7.56 tmcft water for drinking and not irrigation. It also failed to inform the tribunal about the severity of the drought in the region with facts and figures or convince it about the acute scarcity of drinking water faced by the people here during summer.
What is your immediate priority now?
Our immediate priority is to bring pressure on the state government to file a review petition in the Supreme Court challenging the interim order of the Mahadayi tribunal. Also, PM Narendra Modi should intervene to find an amicable solution to the dispute without politicising it. The late Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi did not hesitate to take action to resolve the water dispute with Tamil Nadu.
Why are farmers are not using alternative sources of water like the Benne Halla stream?
We don’t have a proper valley or hillock to build a barrage or bridge in the four districts that the Benne Halla stream flows through. Moreover, its water is not suitable for drinking or irrigation. It could in fact reduce the fertility of the farmlands. Malaprabha reservoir is the only source of water for the farmers of the four districts.
Are farmers' organisations united in this struggle?
The Mahadayi agitation has not depended on any leader or organisation. People are voluntarily supporting the movement although we have not called for bandhs. We will intensify the agitation and may have take the law into our own hands if the farmers do not get justice from the government and the Mahadayi tribunal.
Do you believe water tribunals have been unjust to Karnataka?
All tribunals, except the Krishna, have pronounced verdicts against the interests of Karnataka, forcing the farmers to indulge in violent protests. This is because successive state governments have failed to appoint efficient lawyers to argue its case.
