CRA credibility on test

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI, OCT. 11 After what transpired at Wednesday's meeting, the credibility and utility of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA) are now on test. Will the Authority's order or directive to Karnataka be implemented? Will the Karnataka Government, considering its unenviable position, agree to release at least some water to Tamil Nadu? What will be the response of the Supreme Court when it takes up Tamil Nadu's appeal on Friday? These are some of the interesting questions that have arisen following yesterday's CRA meeting.

Going by reports and information available with officials here, the State Government and its delegation, led by the Chief Minister, Mr. O. Paneerselvam, were ``thoroughly disappointed'' at the turn of events. But they hasten to add ``We did not expect anything different, because we knew the Authority was powerless''.

As of now, the State Government has no official information of the Authority's order and came to know about it only from media reports. ``There is no mention of the quantum of water to be released, nor of the timing. We are waiting for information from the Ministry of Water resources'', officials say.

If anything, the initial stalemate and the trend of the deliberations at the CRA meeting have only reinforced Tamil Nadu's view that the Authority, as it stands now, is ``toothless, powerless and redundant''. This has been the ruling AIADMK's stand right from the creation of the CRA.

The AIADMK chief, Ms. Jayalalithaa, has advocated a decision- making role for the Authority, which should consist of officials. But in 1997-98, during the discussions that led to its formation, the State Governments decided that the Authority must be a `political forum', comprising Chief Ministers and chaired by the Prime Minister.

Whatever its composition, it is ultimately the role in crisis resolution that determines the CRA's success or relevance. And till now, Tamil Nadu feels, this has not been proved.

Officials explain ``it is not enough to tell us at the end of the year that Karnataka has given well over 205 tmcft of water. The Tribunal's interim award was very clear and there is a time-table for release of water. We need it most from June to October and we expect Karnataka to honour the tribunal's award in letter and in spirit. The Authority must ensure that the award is implemented. That is the test''.

Even now, with a deficit of over 60 tmcft since June, the officials argue ``we asked for an immediate release of 10 tmcft to save the standing crop and prepare for samba. Karnataka was not prepared to release any water. Let us see what the Prime Minister's directive will be and how Karnataka will respond to it''.

The prime concern relates to the role of the CRA in a `crisis year', when the southwest monsoon fails and there is not enough inflow from Karnataka. Tamil Nadu's complaint has been that its neighbour releases only the surplus water when its reservoirs and dams are full. It does not follow the time-table of release laid down in the interim award.

With the breakdown of talks at yesterday's meeting, the CRA has invited suggestions on how to manage a crisis situation. There can be no dearth of suggestions, but experts say it will ultimately depend on the ``political will'' of the riparian States to resolve inter-State problems and disputes. Since bilateralism could spark political rows, a multilateral approach under the aegis of the Centre could be helpful in ironing out such problems, it was thought when the CRA was set up.

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Section  : Southern States
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