Bangalore: The report of the Assessors' Committee on Cauvery Basin has favoured the continuance of minor irrigation works in the riparian States. However, it has warned that any increase in area under minor irrigation will lead to a reduction in the area permitted under major and medium projects.

Consequently, the water share for major and medium projects will be reduced, according to the report, which was circulated among riparian States by the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal for their comments. However, a final view on the matter will be taken by the tribunal after hearing the arguments of the States.

Recognising the need for extending minor irrigation in the Basin, contrary to the views expressed by the Experts' Committee headed by C.C. Patel, the report has said that in view of the Centre's policy of encouraging extensive irrigation, it is advisable to allow the development of minor irrigation as indicated by Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala before the tribunal.

Tamil Nadu, which has indicated that it will develop 21,700 hectares of land, taking the area under minor irrigation to nearly 1.4 lakh hectares, sought the allotment of 69 tmcft of water. Karnataka has said that it intends to develop 36,460 hectares of land, which will increase the area under minor irrigation to 1.34 lakh hectares. It has estimated its requirement at 71.3 tmcft.

The report has said that while apportioning water, the quantity allotted to each State for use under minor irrigation will have to be carefully considered. Without restriction on the use of water under minor irrigation, a State could intercept and consume a higher quantity of water, which would drastically reduce the flows to the river system from its territory. — UNI

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