Water Management and Wise Use Vital to Solve Border River Disputes, Experts Say

Farmers, policy experts, and activists gathered in Dharwad on October 24 to discuss sharing river waters from the Mahadayi and Malaprabha systems across state borders. Former public works official G.C. Tallur spoke at the event, stating that careful resource management and fair sharing can help solve inter-state water conflicts. Groups including the National Alliance of People's Movements, SEPAK Karnataka, Eco Watch, Sarvodaya Samaj Gandhi Peace Foundation, and Hubballi-Dharwad Nagarika Parisara Samiti jointly put together the interaction, which drew participants from Karnataka, Goa, and Maharashtra.

Allocations and Crops

Mr. Tallur noted that water sharing amounts are already fixed by tribunals for major basins like the Krishna, Cauvery, and Godavari. He pointed out that Karnataka covers about 190 lakh hectares of land, with roughly 128 lakh hectares farmed. The water assigned by tribunals is enough for these lands if farmers avoid growing crops that drink too much water. However, fair distribution stays difficult because of many small and marginal farmers, along with a rise in thirsty crops like sugarcane, banana, and paddy. With unpredictable monsoons, he urged growers to match planting choices with actual rainfall and water supplies.

Diverging Views

During the meeting, farmer representative Shankar Ambli questioned why authorities hesitate to give 5 TMC of water to growers for farming while 15 TMC reportedly goes toward cooling tech centers for artificial intelligence. He worried that tech growth adds heavy strain on supplies and claimed green groups hold farming and industry to different rules. Other speakers and attendees included activists Nirmala Gouda, Sanjiv Kulkarni, Suresh Heblikar, and Mahima Patil.

Context

Water sharing between neighboring states in India often leads to friction, especially during dry months when supplies run low. River tribunals set specific limits to share these natural resources fairly among all states in a river basin. Balancing farming needs with modern industrial growth remains a major policy puzzle for local governments.