Distress-sharing formula is the only permanent solution to Cauvery dispute: KRRS
Pointing out that a distress-sharing formula is the only lasting solution to the decades-old Cauvery water dispute, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has called for
Pointing out that a distress-sharing formula is the only lasting solution to the decades-old Cauvery water dispute, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha (KRRS) has called for immediate steps to evolve a mechanism for laying down a clear framework for sharing of water between the riparian States during periods of scarcity. Addressing a press conference in Mysuru on Tuesday (August 4), KRRS leader Badagalapura Nagendra attributed the recurring conflict between the Cauvery basin States to the absence of such a formula in both the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal award and the subsequent verdict by the Supreme Court. “This gap has repeatedly triggered friction among the riparian States whenever rainfall is deficient,” he said. Proposals Putting forward three proposals to address the issue, Mr. Nagendra said KRRS urges the Union government to convene a meeting of the Chief Ministers of the four riparian States — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry — to evolve a distress-sharing formula as the first proposal.
The second proposal is that the Chief Ministers could arrive at such a formula through direct mutual discussions, without Central intervention. Should the impasse persist, the KRRS suggested, as the third proposal, the constitution of a separate tribunal exclusively tasked with framing a distress-sharing mechanism. As part of this effort, Mr. Nagendra said the KRRS is proposing to revive the ‘Cauvery Family’, an earlier forum of farmers from the four basin States, meant to facilitate people-to-people dialogue on the issue. Preliminary discussions on relaunching the initiative would be held shortly, he said. Nagendra also noted that there is a pressing need to revisit the existing water-sharing formula altogether in view of the declining water yield in Cauvery basin in recent years.
Agriculture Department posts The KRRS leader also opposed the State government’s move to permit BE (Biotechnology) graduates to be considered for appointment to the posts of Assistant Agriculture Officer and Agriculture Officer. Contending that biotechnology engineering graduates do not study agriculture-related subjects to an extent that qualifies them for these positions, Mr. Nagendra said BE graduates are not eligible for posts in the Agriculture Department. He alleged that the government had succumbed to pressure from corporates and demanded immediate withdrawal of the permission. The KRRS has extended its full support to the protest being organised by agriculture graduates at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, on Wednesday (August 5), against the government’s decision. Nation-wide protest Referring to the nation-wide agitation on the lines of the Quit India Movement called by Samyukta Kisan Morcha and Joint Trade Unions on August 10, Mr. Nagendra said farmers, Dalits, workers, women, students and youth will participate in the protests and court arrest in different district headquarters of the State.
The BriefWire