CHENNAI: Water experts are baffled at the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal directive to the Centre to form a three-member committee to go into crop pattern and water requirements of the riparian States.

Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala had presented experts representing different disciplines such as agronomy and meteorology before the tribunal. They had filed affidavits and were cross-examined by counsel for the States, the experts recall. The evidence was on record. Tribunal chairmanN.P. Singh had mentioned this in his separate order.

The experts wonder when that is the case, what is the need for formation of a committee comprising two agronomists and one from the field of meteorology/environment.

The witnesses

Tamil Nadu had named as its witnesses, agriculture scientists M.S. Swaminathan and S. Krishnamoorthy of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, and A.A. Ramasastry, former Deputy Director-General of Meteorology. They were cross-examined in 1995.

Karnataka named agronomist I.C. Mahapatra and dry land farming expert J.S. Kanwar. They took part in over 40 sittings between 1998 and 1999. Agronomist R. Gopalakrishnan represented Kerala. He was cross-examined in 2000 and 2001.

Mr. Singh also noted in his order that from 1997 (when he became the chief of the tribunal) to date, no party-State had suggested the appointment of any agronomist/meteorologist.

The experts point out that in pursuance of the tribunal's directive in November 2002, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had filed affidavits, giving details on water requirements and crops they were growing and proposed to grow in view of the scarcity of water in the Cauvery. They submitted several documents including publications in respect of water requirements for different crops in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

All the party-States, in their joint statement to the tribunal on Friday, sought the issuance of the final award "as soon as possible" as the matter was over 16 years old.

Such a request reflects the anxiety of the States for an early verdict and this aspect has to be borne in mind by the tribunal, say the experts.

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