FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Tamil Nadu Independence Movement
Cauvery Water Dispute and Tamilnadu Independence
TAMIL TRIBUNE, December 2004 (ID. 2004-12-01)
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QUESTION:
Tamil Nadu farmers from Cauvery Delta depend on Cauvery River water coming from Karnataka State (India) for their rice crops. What will independent Tamil Nadu do without Cauvery water? (Cauvery Delta = Thanjavur, nearby districts and Pondycherry)
ANSWER:
Many countries have one or more rivers flowing in from a neighboring country or flowing out to a neighboring country. Countries that have a common river need not have to artificially join together to form a single country in order to share the water. If that were the case, there could be only a few dozen countries in the whole world. There are international norms and modalities on sharing river water. It is internationally recognized that downstream countries (riparian countries) have certain legitimate rights to a share of the river water. Though there are no international mechanisms to enforce the water sharing by force, international moral and economic pressures assure that river water is shared equitably between independent countries.
If a country flouts the international norms and refuses to share the water, international community would look down on it as a "bad world citizen". This will also reflect negatively on foreign aid and loans to the offending country. That is why river waters are shared equitably between countries, even countries that are not friendly with each other.
There are so many examples one can show of how countries share river waters. We will present here just two examples closer to home; water sharing agreement between India and Pakistan, and water sharing agreement between India and Bangladesh. India has river-water sharing treaties with both these countries and sends the agreed amount of water regularly. Independent Tamilnadu will also sign a water sharing treaty with India. Some of you may ask the following questions:
1. Why would India sign a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu to share Cauvery River Water?
2. India signed a treaty with Pakistan and Bangladesh because those countries had a legitimate claim for a share of water from rivers originating in India. Does Tamil Nadu have a legitimate claim?
3. Even if India signs a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu, will it abide by it if relations between the two countries sour?
4. Even if India signs a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu, will it abide by it during distress years (dry years) when there is not much rain fall in Karnataka State?
5. Presently Karnataka State Government refuses to implement fully Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim orders and Indian Supreme Court decisions. Will it honor the terms of a treaty signed by the Indian Government?
Let me answer these questions one by one.
1. Why would India sign a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu to share Cauvery River Water?
India will sign a Cauvery River Water Sharing Treaty with independent Tamil Nadu because of the same reasons that it signed such treaties with Pakistan and Bangladesh. India's relationship with Pakistan is hostile from the very beginning of their births in 1947. They fought several wars in the past half-a-century. Yet India signed a water sharing treaty with Pakistan and sends water to it per agreement. India's relationship with Bangladesh is not rosy either. Though the two countries did not fight any war, they have border disputes and occasional minor clashes. Yet India signed a water sharing treaty with Bangladesh and sends water to it per agreement. Why?
These two countries have a legitimate claim to a share of the water from rivers emanating from India. If India were to dishonor their legitimate claims and refuse to share the water, world community would look down on India as "a bad world citizen". India wants the world to respect it and water sharing is a small price to pay. Also, India may not be looked at favorably in foreign aid and loans if it refuses to share water. These were the reasons for India signing water sharing treaties with Pakistan and Bangladesh although its relationship with these countries are not good, especially its relationship with Pakistan. India would sign a treaty with independent Tamilnadu to share Cauvery River water because of the same reasons.
2. India signed a treaty with Pakistan and Bangladesh because those countries had a legitimate claim for a share of water from rivers originating in India. Does Tamil Nadu have a legitimate claim?
Absolutely. Tamil Nadu has definitely a claim for a share of Cauvery River water as a lower riparian (downstream country). This is attested by the very fact that every Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim order and every Indian Supreme Court decision has favored Tamil Nadu.
3. Even if India signs a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu, will it abide by it if relations between the two countries sour?
Yes, it will. In spite of the many wars it fought with Pakistan, India never stopped water going to Pakistan. Similarly India will honor the Cauvery Water Treaty even if it does not have friendly relations with Tamil Nadu.
4. Even if India signs a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu, will it abide by it during distress years (dry years) when there is not much rain fall in Karnataka State?
The Ganga Treaty between India and Bangladesh could be a model for the treaty between India and independent Tamil Nadu. The Ganga Treaty specifies a formula for how much water should flow from India to Bangladesh; it even specifies the amount of water Bangladesh should receive in distress years (dry years). India has honored that agreement even during distress years.
5. Presently Karnataka State Government refuses to implement fully Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim orders and Indian Supreme Court decisions. Will it honor the terms of a treaty signed by the Indian Government?
Presently Karnataka State Government does refuse to implement fully Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal's interim orders and Indian Supreme Court decisions. Today, Karnataka's refusal is an internal matter (inter-state dispute) and so Indian Government does not bother to force Karnataka to send the water to Tamil Nadu. It would be an entirely different scenario if India signs a treaty with independent Tamil Nadu. That would be an international obligation of the Indian Government to an independent country and so Indian Government would do whatever is necessary to make sure the terms of the treaty are fulfilled.
In summary, looking at all potential scenarios, Tamil Nadu's Cauvery Delta farmers from Thanjavur and nearby districts and Pondycherry would be better off than now if Tamil Nadu becomes an independent country.
(EDITOR'S NOTE: Cauvery is sometimes spelled as Kavery. Pondycherry is sometimes spelled as Pondicherry. Thanjavur (Thanjavoor) is also called Tanjore and Thanjai.
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