CONCLUDING REMARKS OF THE PRIME MINISTER IN THE FOURTH MEETING
OF THE CAUVERY RIVER AUTHORITY
Fourth meeting of the Cauvery River
Authority began under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Shri
Atal Bihari Vajpayee, here today. Following is the text of the
concluding remarks made by the PM at the meeting:-
"I should, first of all, thank the
Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Pondicherry and Minister,
Water Resources, Kerala for putting forth their views in a forthright
manner.
Undoubtedly, the country as a whole,
is facing one of the severest deficits in rainfall in the recent
years. The average deficit, as of now, is estimated to be around
23%. Like any average, such a figure could be misleading. Some
parts of the country received excessive rains and heavy floods
which means that in the deficit areas, the shortfall is much more
than 23%. This is further confirmed by the very low levels of
storage in the major reservoirs in the country. The current storage
is less than 50% of the last ten years’ average in the major reservoirs
in the country. This gives a measure of the scarcity of availability
of water and the mammoth task we have ahead of us in management
of the available water for drinking water, power and irrigation.
Cauvery Basin is among the most severely
affected river basins. As the figures indicate, Karnataka reservoirs
have received inflows of a little over 50% of the last 11 years’
average while the inflows into Mettur reservoir are less than
30% of what has been indicated in the interim order of the Tribunal.
This coupled with deficit and scanty rainfall in the large number
of districts in the basin States, resulted in extensive and even
excruciating distress to the farmer communities.
While I am fully aware of their problems
in the face of severe drought of such a magnitude, there is no
solution other than sharing the deficit and the distress in an
equitable manner in a spirit of compassion, understanding and
brotherhood. In fact, the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal, by
its Order dated 3rd April, 1992 had exactly suggested
such a principle of pro-rata sharing of distress.
It is now for us to work out the
details. While there is still hope that the inflows in the days
ahead may improve, we should be prepared to work together and
arrive at an acceptable formula of deficit sharing. In fact, after
the Tribunal Order of 25.06.1991, the next 4 years, inflows to
the Mettur Dam has been more than those stipulated 205 TMC. In
1995-96, when there was shortfall, the Tribunal in its order dated
19th December, 1995 directed a release of 11 TMC. Again
in the next 5 years, the inflows were more than adequate. Unfortunately,
last year and this year, there have been severe shortfalls. I
would suggest that the Monitoring Committee should meet and finalize
before 15th September a specific formula for deficit
sharing in keeping with the directions of the Tribunal given on
3rd April, 1992.
I propose that we may meet once again
sometime in the third week of September to arrive at an agreed
deficit sharing formula which would ensure equal distribution
of water to the Cauvery basin States.
In one sense, we are witnessing a
defining moment to demonstrate our capability, conviction and
commitment to resolve such inter-State differences and disputes
in a spirit of give and take which is the hallmark of the highest
traditions of democracy. If we succeed in arriving at an agreed
formula for pro-rata sharing when we meet next, we would create
a historic decision of which Indian democracy could be proud of.
I am sure I would have your cooperation in doing so."
