Water war among Indian States

--By P. Neelakantha Achary, Staff Writer

The current news stories are filled with the water war among the Indian states. The states have been in the row for sharing of the river water for long time. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa and Andra Pradesh are hitting the headlines over the conflict on water. It may be Hogenakkal, Bali dam or Mahendratanaya river, but objective behind the row is clear, for sharing the water. The tug-of-war among states is for water, that can fertile land and cherish the farmers of the respective states.

There is nothing wrong in fighting with neighboring states for the sake of water that could make a difference to the farmers. Guarding interest of the farmers is the prime objective of any government. In near future, many other states could also join the water war for their respective states or it would not be wrong to say that water war among states could pose a big challenge for the nation.

Certainly, there is a urgent need for a consensus to end the row. The water row is however serious for states, but it is not an easy task for the nation to chalk out a solution. Earlier, to end such row, the NDA government had initiated an approach for a National River Linking project but that was not carried out. The geographical, ecological reasons and lack of political will over the project might be the cause for the deadlock of national river linking project.

It is high time the government steps in and ends the row over water sharing by initiating a dialogue for a permanent solution to the water war through projects like National River Linking project. If a consensus is made to end the water war using any form of dialogue, then that could be a great reason for the nation to celebrate, as it would prevent other states from indulging in any conflict over water.