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Kerala delaying talks with Karnataka

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala is sitting on proposals for talks with Karnataka on diversion of waters from rivers originating in Karnataka.

Of the 41 west-flowing rivers in Kerala, six (Uppala, Shiriya, Chandragiri, Karingole, Kuppam and Valapatnam) have their sources in Karnataka.

Karnataka has been diverting water from these rivers from the Eighties allegedly ignoring the lower riparian rights of Kerala.

Early diversions from the Shiriya river had been noticed in the mid-Eighties and the State had taken up the issue with the Central government. Kerala demanded that a river board under the River Boards Act be set up. This, however, has not yielded any results so far.

Officials pointed out a year ago that Kerala should have moved against the diversion of water under the Water Disputes Act. It had made a mistake by asking the Centre to set up a river board. As per the Water Disputes Act, the first step is to hold mutual discussions. However, the Chief Minister’s office is yet to take steps for that.

The State also does not have proposals for tapping the water available in rivers such as the Uppala and Shiriya. Unless the State draws up detailed proposals for use of the water, it would find it difficult to assert its claims.

If talks fail, Kerala could raise a dispute and approach the Centre and seek setting up of a tribunal under the Water Disputes Act. However, Kerala may fail to get its due share if Karnataka is already using the waters and Kerala has no projects demanding water.

Delay on the part of Kerala could lead to Karnataka getting prescriptive rights over water, overriding its lower riparian rights.

According to a report on water resources of Kerala prepared in 1958, the Shiriya has a total run off of 43,000 mcft, of which more than 25,000 mcft is from Karnataka.

The Uppala has an annual run off of 20,000 mcft of which 11,650 mcft is from Karnataka. The Chandragiri has a total run off of 1,10,200 mcft of which 52,500 mcft is from Kerala.

The Valapatnam river (known as Barapole in Karnataka) has a run off of about 97,700 mcft., of which more than half is from Kerala.

Karnataka had set up a hydroelectric project on the Barapole river half a century ago. Though there was potential for a project on the lower reaches, Kerala took no steps to tap the power until recently. Now, a two-stage project has been conceived.

Accordingly, the Travancore Cochin Chemicals was given clearance for a 21 MW captive generation unit. However, Karnataka has raised some objections about the project though Kerala is using only its lower riparian rights.

Availability of water in the rivers has come down though rivers such as the Shiriya and the Valapatnam are perennial. The Uppala dries up in summer. One of the reasons for this is said to be diversion of water by Karnataka. Kerala is yet to look at these issues systematically.

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