Sunday 14th January 2018
I can scarce believe that this issue is still rumbling in into another year, but yet it is.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has announced that the state of Karnataka is not in a position to release Cauvery Water to Tamil Nadu as their is insufficient storage in the reservoirs. The timing is particularly poor as today is Pongal in Tamil Nadu (harvest festival) a day of celebrations for the harvest that has been and for the sowing to come.
The Supreme Court is due to rule on the Cauvery Water dispute next month. I doubt that will be the end of it either.
Thursday 18th January
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami criticised “The Centre” for not responding to his letters whilst the Supreme Court Order is awaited. The standing paddy crops in the delta are in need of water if they are to be saved. The Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has stated that is is not possible for Cauvery Water to be released.
Monday 22nd January
110 villages and other municipal areas have been added to the local state responsibility (BBMP), Yelahanka (where we live) being one. We don’t get piped Cauvery Water here and rely on paying for water tankers to provide water. Some residents have paid ₹75,000 per household for a Cauvery Water connection which hasn’t been done. In addition, underground drainage was supposed to be complete but has yet to appear.
Sunday 11th February 2018
BBC News report:
2. Bangalore
Local officials in the southern Indian city have been bamboozled by the growth of new property developments following Bangalore’s rise as a technological hub and are struggling to manage the city’s water and sewage systems.
To make matters worse, the city’s antiquated plumbing needs an urgent upheaval; a report by the national government found that the city loses over half of its drinking water to waste.
Like China, India struggles with water pollution and Bangalore is no different: an in-depth inventory of the city’s lakes found that 85% had water that could only be used for irrigation and industrial cooling.
Not a single lake had suitable water for drinking or bathing.
Friday 18th February
In a landmark verdict that is expected to have a massive political impact, Tamil Nadu’s share of water from the river Cauvery has been reduced by the Supreme Court. Karnataka will now release 177.25 TMC to Tamil Nadu instead of 192. Karnataka will receive a greater share of water. The big win for Karnataka comes just months before crucial state elections.
The news spread quickly and some schools closed early in case there was any trouble. Cars were being turned away at the Tamil Nadu border and were not allowed to proceed.
Saturday 19th February
The Supreme Court’s decision made the front pages of the national newspapers. Karnataka receiving an extra 14.75 tmc ft of Cauvery water per year from the current 270 to 284. Tamil Nadu will now receive 404.25 instead of 419. The Supreme Court has also ordered that the water be used for intended purposes and no defiance’s to be shown by any state, with the order being in force for the next 15 years.
Wednesday28th February
Just had a message from the complex management. Compulsory aerators being fixed to all taps in villas to reduce water consumption – and they’re charging us for the pleasure. Also advised to lock outside taps so they are not misused for gardening. Hose pipe ban for car washing in force.
It’s not even summer yet. Time to get out of dodge before the drought hits?
Tuesday 6th March
15/110 villages added to Bengaluru city can now apply for a Cauvery Water supply. These are all rural villages and they have to apply online and register by supplying proof of home ownership (a receipt of the property tax payment), transfer a fee online and complete an application form. A physical inspection of the property will then follow, a revenue number issued and then connection. The rather hopeful timeline is one week.
There are several glaringly obvious issues with this proposal. Firstly, pipeline for Water is currently being laid and only 35% complete. Expecting rural villagers to have online connectivity, or access to it, is incredulous. Most rural workers are farmers or daily wage labourer earning between INR300-500 a day. They can’t afford computer equipment or connectivity as their money will be spent on food. Proof of home ownership is another huge hurdle. Who keeps tax receipts after they have bought a house? Most of the rural houses will have been built by themselves from mud bricks and corrugated iron. Expecting a tax payment for that is a triumph of hope over reality. There is also an assumption of literacy, which is very unlikely as school costs money. Stating the whole process will take a week is risible – nothing, and I mean nothing, moves that quick in India unless a bribe has been paid.
Announcements like these really make me angry. It’s just politicians producing bullshit with little grasp of reality. Incredible India indeed.
Friday 23rd March
Karnataka state has requested a ‘Cauvery Decision Implementation Committee’ to be set up by central government following the Supreme Court Order. Karnataka has also requested that the Union Resources Water Minister heads up such a Committee. The Committee should set up a monitoring agency consisting of chief secretaries of all basin states meeting as often as necessary but at least once every 3 months. Karnataka state detailed how such a Committee would work, how appeals should be dealt with and when applications for review of decisions could be presented.
It has literally taken years to get this far and Karnataka states recommendation following the Supreme Court order is to set up yet another Committee. One just wants to scream “get on with it!” And “stop dithering!”. Bureaucracy is an art form here and this is an excellent example of an unnecessary layer of bureaucracy being added to a decision that has already been made.
Wednesday 28th March
The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (‘BWSSB’) has stated that there is enough water from the Cauvery and Kabini rivers to supply the city through the summer until June.
The fact that I am relieved at this statement, although remain sceptical, speaks volumes about how severe the water crisis is here. Anywhere else in the world I would be worried that the city might run out of water in 3 months time whereas here it’s a relief that we will have water for that long.
Thursday 29th March
The Union Minister for Water Resources is filing a petition to the Supreme Court seeking clarification on the implementation of its verdict on the Cauvery water sharing dispute. The Supreme Court ordered that a scheme be set up by 29th March and the Ministry hasn’t and has waited for the deadline to expire before filing a petition for guidance.
I hope the Supreme Court issues a contempt order for not implementing the original order and deliberately delaying the matter.
Sunday 1st April
Tamil Nadu has sought initiation of contempt proceedings against P.K.Sinha (cabinet minister) and U.P Singh (Union Water Resources Secretary) accusing them of deliberately disobeying the Court’s orders.
“The Centre” on the other hand has applied to the Supreme Court requesting a deferment of the implementation of the Cauvery Water decision until after the Karnataka state elections on 12th May fearing public unrest and violence.
I hope the contempt proceedings are successful because this delay has led to a problem with the upcoming elections. A double whammy. I predict a further delay unfortunately.
Monday 2nd April
Flash protests were held in Chennai yesterday and the DMK announced total shutdowns and protests in Tamil Nadu on specific dates, the first being on Thursday 5th April. The ruling AIADMK is to hold a day long fast demanding the constitution of the Cauvery Management Board. PM Modi is expected to be in Chennai on 11th April and shops will be shut across the state in protest. Chemists are shut today, and farmers are going to gherao the airport on Tuesday. The parties have also decided to undertake a “Cauvery Rights Retrieval Walk” from the Delta region.
Tuesday 3rd April
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the contempt proceedings lodged by Tamil Nadu state on 9th April. The three presiding judges hearing the contempt proceedings application did comment that a ‘scheme’ did not mean the Cauvery Management Board only, but a cheek has to be put in place.
Wednesday 4th April
The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have regulated 10 buses on the Tamil Nadu route due to increasing tensions. There are usually 45 buses running. Cancellation of service completely is likely if violence erupts.
Protests took place yesterday in Tamil Nadu as the ruling AIADMK party demanded the constitution of a Cauvery Management Board. A day long fast (8am to 5:30pm) took place and shops shut. The Tamil Nadu farmers association staged a rail roko protest during the Bandh.
Thursday 5th April
Yesterday the Supreme Court asked the people of Tamil Nadu to maintain peace, reassuring them that their interest will be taken care of in the Cauvery Water sharing dispute.
Friday 6th April
The Tamil Nadu bandh over the Cauvery water led to buses and lorries doing u turns at the border as police stopped vehicles with Karnataka registered number plates. 211 buses were cancelled until 5:30pm. Private bus operators said 1,200 buses for destinations in Karnataka were cancelled.
Saturday 7th April
Deccan Herald article:
Sunday 8th April
Amid opposition to IPL matches here in view of raging protests over Cauvery issue, Tamil film star Rajinikanth today said it would be good if organisers stopped the games as such a gala event would be embarrassing when the entire Tamil Nadu was agitating.
Alternatively, he suggested Chennai Super Kings (CSK) team players could play in the city wearing black bands as a mark of expressing the anguish of people who have been staging protests demanding setting up of Cauvery Management Board.
“Playing IPL matches here when the whole of Tamil Nadu is agitating for Cauvery (management board) will be an embarrassment,” he told reporters here referring to the opposition from different quarters to the event. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), IPL authorities and the owners of Chennai Super Kings should extend their cooperation by allowing the players to wear the black bands he said.
Rajinikanth also appealed to IPL fans to wear black to extend their support to the stir. Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader T T V and some pro-Tamil outfits have opposed playing of IPL matches in the city, citing the ongoing protests in support of setting up of CMB.
Dhinakaran has appealed to the cricket fans to shun the matches scheduled to be held here in order to strengthen the voice of farmers’ seeking CMB. Pro-Tamil outfits including Tamilaga Vazhvurimai Katchi have also opposed the holding of IPL matches in the city.
Opposition DMK Working President M K Stalin had said the organisers of IPL matches should realise the issues faced by the people and act accordingly. “We are not saying that it (matches) should not be held. The organisers should realise the problems of people and act accordingly,” he had said last week.
Fisheries Minister and senior AIADMK Leader D Jayakumar had said the BCCI would realise the situation in Tamil Nadu and decide whether to hold the matches or not. Seven IPL matches are scheduled to be held here between April 10 and May 20.
Monday 9th April
The Supreme Court today asked the Centre to formulate and file the draft Cauvery management scheme before it by May 3 and directed the authorities of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and other stakeholders to ensure peace in the meantime.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it had considered the award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal (CWDT) while deciding the water share of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry in its judgement.
The bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said that its judgment has to be complied with all the stakeholders.
The court said the authorities are required to ensure peace till it peruses the draft scheme and finalises it for proper distribution of Cauvery water.
Tuesday 10th April
The newspapers are reporting on the front page the Supreme Court decision from yesterday. They emphasise that the court has criticised the central government for failing to comply with the court order and implement a scheme. The court also asked the Attorney General to explain why they did not implement a scheme and reminded them that the Court does no5 I tend to supervise progress for a long time. The central government now has until 3rd May to implement a scheme.
Wednesday 11th April
The High Court of Karnataka yesterday directed the state government to file a written statement over its stand on granting permission to Bandhs. This is in connection with a batch of petitions challenging permission to Bandh (a general strike) on Thursday 12th April by various pro Kannada organisations over the Cauvery issue.
meanwhile the central Government in New Dehli states it will frame a new scheme by the 3rd May deadline whether it be judicial or administrative, and the name did not matter. Water between February to May (summer) is only released to maintain environmental flow and the release of water as per the court order applies between June to January.
Deccan Herald article:
IPL organises could find themselves on a slithery wicket with a Tamil outfit today threatening to let loose snakes into the Chepauk stadium here to protest over the Cauvery issue if another match of the cricket league is held at the venue.
The snakes will not be poisonous as the intention is not to harm anybody, but to only express angst over the delay in the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB), Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) chief T Velmurugan said.
“If the IPL match is held on April 20 in Chennai as per schedule, I will hold the snake protest. I will let snakes into the stadium. There is no change in it,” he said.
The TVK chief, who has held protests on several pro-Tamil issues, said, “These snakes which we intend to let into the stadium will have absolutely no poison.”
“Our idea is not to harm anybody, be it players, spectators or the police personnel on duty. We want to scare people away, let there be no cricket match now,” he told PTI.
He said when the entire state of Tamil Nadu was on an agitation mode for its rights on the Cauvery issue, an IPL fixture, which was an entertainment event, was not needed.
Seven matches, including the one held yesterday, were scheduled to be played in Chennai.
IPL organisers have sought additional security in the wake of the protest by various Tamil outfits, who have demanded that the matches be shifted.
Thursday 12th April
The BCCI has short-listed four cities to host Chennai Super King’s home matches after the IPL franchise was told to consider shifting base due to the Cauvery water protest. The BCCI moved the remaining Chennai Super Kings home games to Pune.
There were already calls by various groups not to host cricket matches in Chennai when the state was facing such a grave situation. Massive protests were witnessed on Tuesday ahead of the match between CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders and an identified protestor flung a shoe at CSK’s Ravindra Jadeja during the match.
Friday 13th April
PM Modi face a black balloon protest in Chennai yesterday in protest at his indecision to set up a Cauvery Management Board. The balloons carried the phrase “Modi Go Back”.
The Deccan Herald has commenced a campaign of investigation into the water tanker mafia.
Tuesday 8th May
The Karnataka Government was at the Supreme Court yesterday stating that it had not committed any default in the release of the Cauvery river water to Tamil Nadu in 2017-18, the third year of distress. This is in response to the Tamil Nadu governments application to have more water released to the state at Billigundulu, maintaining that there had been a shortfall.
The Tamil Nadu state also pointed out that all the deadlines set by the Supreme Court to set up a scheme for the management of the Cauvery river Water had all expired on 3rd May. The Union Government is to respond today but has already declared that the PM and other Cabinet Ministers are campaigning in Karnataka for the State Assembly elections on 12th May.
Expat Life in Bangalore 