Union Home Minister Amit Shah's speech at Southern Zonal Council in Mamallapuram last month calling for early resolution of southern water disputes and pitching Brahmaputra-Godavari-Cauvery linking as a solution ensuring no water shortage for 100 years has triggered debate. Well-meaning but easier said than done.
Water sharing is India's most contentious federal issue. Evidence: Tamil Nadu's demand for Pennaiyar tribunal. Aggrieved over "violation" of 1892 agreement by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu requested Centre in November 2019 to form tribunal, moved Supreme Court too. Two negotiation committees, 11 meetings, yet no tribunal. In February this year, top court directed Centre to form tribunal in a month, extended deadline by six months. Still not in place. Centre now asks if dispute can go to Mahadayi Tribunal instead of new tribunal - illogical as nothing common between two disputes. It also has not replied to Tamil Nadu's March demand for Mekedatu tribunal against Karnataka.
This shows Centre's hesitation to implement judicial verdicts in inter-state river disputes. Interstate River Water Disputes Act, 1956 does not permit such delay. Pennaiyar example shows lack of will.
Proponents say linking will divert only surplus water, not disturb natural flow. Experts unconvinced. Once allowed, beneficiary regions may demand water even in distress times, depriving original basins. Ecology concerns: Kerala opposes Pamba-Achankovil-Vaippar link saying it will affect Vembanad wetland where Pamba and Achankovil drain.
In last 130 years, India has seen only handful of inter-basin transfers, most in south - Mullaperiyar, Parambikulam-Aliyar, Krishna Water Supply, Indira Gandhi Canal. Since 2014, Special Committee for Interlinking held over two dozen meetings with little headway. In 2024, PM laid foundation for Rs 44,000 crore Ken-Betwa Link, now facing tribal protests in Chhatarpur.
Real priority should be demand-side management, not supply-side mega projects. Land scarce, acquisition resistance high, days of mega irrigation over. Need conservation, judicious use, farmer sensitisation for optimal water use, curbing indiscriminate groundwater extraction due to free electricity. Unless water conservation becomes mantra, disputes will be norm.