Chennai known as the 'Detroit' of the country owing to its large scale automobile industries, has concentrated more to resolve the disputes, yet not a single year passes without a tussle to get the share of water.
Mentioning about Tamil Nadu Water Problems, the main issue that comes to every mind is the impending Cauvery row. Cauvery river flows from Karnataka to the state, is ideal for irrigation in Coimbatore and surrounding districts. But there is a regular tussle between the two governments over water sharing. While Karnataka complains that water is insufficient to it's own domestic needs, TN asks for it's rightful share as border districts also need water to survive.
Even Cauvery Monitoring Committee headed by Prime Minister him self could not convince the neighbors to part with some water. On the instance of the apex court, TN Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa met her counterpart, Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore to sort out the difference and it was a vain bid. The case is still pending and awaits a miracle.
On the other side, with Kerala, TN has the 'Mullaiperiyar Dam row. Century old dam has been the bone of contention between the two states, since some time. The Dam constructed in Kerala borders is monitored frequently by TN. The main controversy is that Kerala Government wants to demolish this dam fearing a burst, but TN claims that further to expert's reports, the dam is safe and there is no imminent threat as feared.
This issue had been persisting and emerges mostly around October every year and peaks around December while receding in January, later it subsides. The reason for this fluctuating nature needs to be clearly observed as the pattern has been somewhat similar the last few years, probably this could solve the problem better than trying to address the original issue.
On the other hand, when the trouble breaks out border districts on both sides, become tense. Transport between the two states comes to a standstill and the whole situation turns chaotic with politicians on both sides trying their best to hog limelight by commenting on the issue. This again is in the court and awaits another miracle.
In spite of excellent infrastructure, education and health, TN is unable to tide over these water woos that are bogging down the growth to a certain extent. Water scarcity has also created huge power crisis resulting in production drops with erratic outages on the manufacturing side and an equal effect on agriculture as well.(Wishesh AarKay)
