New Delhi: Pointing out that the total quantity of water required for cultivation of one lakh acres of land was less in Tamil Nadu than Karnataka, senior counsel Shekhar Naphade argued in the Supreme Court that the tribunal’s award of 192 tmcft of water to the state was less.
Making this submission before a three bench of Justices Dipak Misra, Amitav Roy and A.M. Kanwilkar, counsel said the requirement for raising one lakh acres of paddy in Karnataka is about 19.3 tmcft, while in Tamil Nadu, it is about 13.3 tmcft. The difference is very high. The difference in crop water requirement per lakh acres of paddy crop is very high for Karnataka.
He said thus the water is inefficiently used in Karnataka. Instead, if Karnataka switches over from Khariff paddy to Khariff semi-dry crop, water can be used beneficially without much difference in economical benefit to farmers of Karnataka. Further, with the same water Tamil Nadu could produce more paddy (grain), which is the need of the nation to meet the food security goal of India, and the tribunal had not properly considered this aspect.
Mr Naphade submitted that the drought need not necessarily be a criterion in allocation of water in the Cauvery basin. It will depend upon the nature of crop, optimum water at a reasonable cost. He said the nature of soil in the Cauvery basin of Tamil Nadu is ideally suited for raising paddy crop as affirmed by both the witnesses of the state of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, productivity of paddy per unit of water is also higher in Tamil Nadu.
The soils of Karnataka which is red sandy soil is suitable for raising semi dry crops which is also economically profitable to the farmers of Karnataka. If semi dry crops were grown, the water would be used efficiently. Therefore, it is more appropriate for Karnataka to switch over in a phased manner from Khariff paddy to Khariff semi dry crop except in the age-old areas where the soil has been stabilized for paddy cultivation.
This pattern both in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would help to increase the food production efficiently in the interest of the Country to meet the food security, he added. Arguments will continue on August 16.
