Rivers, a national treasure
India's water resources belong to all its citizens. Only statesmen, not power-hungry politicians, can circumvent petty quarrels and work out water-sharing agreements.
V.R. Krishna Iyer
The Hindu, 30 December
INDIA HAS an abundance of water, so necessary for life, with rivers from the Ganga to the Cauvery. When I was Kerala's Minister for Irrigation and Electricity (1957-59), I thought it a high priority to prepare a water resources masterplan for the State. When it was ready, I presented it to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who greeted it as a great accomplishment. Nehru told me that I should start a large number of minor irrigation and electricity projects and referred, as an example, to the collective farms of the Soviet Union.
I did start a number of lift irrigation projects, and tried to put in place water projects in tune with local people's needs. Kerala has 44 rivers, big and small. I insisted on people's participation and labour, which came voluntarily and abundantly.
This productive contribution was largely drawn from the local villages, which gave the people a sense of possession and gram swaraj. This is economic democracy. Given some training, rural youth can play a substantially creative role.
We have failed to harvest even rainwater, so urgently needed for cultivation and drinking. How I wish the nation did harness the water resources of India and planned their use for the villages, the cities, and the desert areas.
India's water resources belong to all its citizens. Only statesmen, not power-hungry politicians, can circumvent petty quarrels and work out water-sharing agreements.
The Mullaperiyar project has worked for a century on the basis of humane considerations, not by inter-State rivalry and grab-water chauvinism. Why not choose three to five engineers with expertise in water use to make on-the-spot enquiries? They can request all information, meet people on both sides, study ther soil condition in both the States, and the other social and economic dimensions. Let the two States not adopt an acrimonious attitude as if it is a battle between two countries.
A court is incompetent to do justice without a serious study by experts and agriculturists.
Agriculturists from both sides must form a joint committee and advise the engineering specialists so that water can be put to the best common use.
Patriotism is not politicking; nationalism is not divisive challenges. Indian humanity — Tamil or Malayali — is one. Who gets more water is not the issue. More production with more water utilised in a planned process is the wealth of both the States.
V.R. Krishna Iyer
The Hindu, 30 December
INDIA HAS an abundance of water, so necessary for life, with rivers from the Ganga to the Cauvery. When I was Kerala's Minister for Irrigation and Electricity (1957-59), I thought it a high priority to prepare a water resources masterplan for the State. When it was ready, I presented it to Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who greeted it as a great accomplishment. Nehru told me that I should start a large number of minor irrigation and electricity projects and referred, as an example, to the collective farms of the Soviet Union.
I did start a number of lift irrigation projects, and tried to put in place water projects in tune with local people's needs. Kerala has 44 rivers, big and small. I insisted on people's participation and labour, which came voluntarily and abundantly.
This productive contribution was largely drawn from the local villages, which gave the people a sense of possession and gram swaraj. This is economic democracy. Given some training, rural youth can play a substantially creative role.
We have failed to harvest even rainwater, so urgently needed for cultivation and drinking. How I wish the nation did harness the water resources of India and planned their use for the villages, the cities, and the desert areas.
India's water resources belong to all its citizens. Only statesmen, not power-hungry politicians, can circumvent petty quarrels and work out water-sharing agreements.
The Mullaperiyar project has worked for a century on the basis of humane considerations, not by inter-State rivalry and grab-water chauvinism. Why not choose three to five engineers with expertise in water use to make on-the-spot enquiries? They can request all information, meet people on both sides, study ther soil condition in both the States, and the other social and economic dimensions. Let the two States not adopt an acrimonious attitude as if it is a battle between two countries.
A court is incompetent to do justice without a serious study by experts and agriculturists.
Agriculturists from both sides must form a joint committee and advise the engineering specialists so that water can be put to the best common use.
Patriotism is not politicking; nationalism is not divisive challenges. Indian humanity — Tamil or Malayali — is one. Who gets more water is not the issue. More production with more water utilised in a planned process is the wealth of both the States.
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