Cauvery Water Dispute “Because of Greed”

Oct 19, 2016 | Shivani Chaturvedi
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India’s leading water expert and president of the South Asia Consortium for Interdisciplinary Water Resources Studies, S Janakarajan, wonders why Chennai, a city that receives 1,250 mm rainfall, is called a thirsty city and goes on to explain to Shivani Chaturvedi what went wrong among the southern states that led to a water-war like situation. 

There is an increase in demand for water from all sectors including agriculture, industry and urban areas. In the last few years, urbanisation is taking place rapidly all over the country and more so in the southern states. Tamil Nadu is considered the most urbanised state in the country with around 48 percent of the population living in urban areas. Even Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are not lagging behind. There is unhealthy competition. The list of water wars includes Mullaperiyar dam issue between Tamil Nadu and Kerala, row between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana over Krishna water sharing, agreement between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over Krishna water release through Telugu Ganga project, dispute between Tamil Nadu and Kerala over river Siruvani and the bitterest Cauvery water issue.