Chiranjiv Singh: Not emotional, only rational approach can solve Cauvery row
When in service or after retirement, former IAS officer Chiranjiv Singh is the same-he lives like an ascetic. Those who know him will vouch for his vast knowledge, integrity and impeccable career. He is a cultural ambassador and was recently conferred the Officer of the National Order of Merit by the French Ambassador to India. Mr Singh who worked for several years in Mysuru region interacted with Deccan Chronicle on the Cauvery crisis.
Sitting in the living room of his house, which resembles an art gallery, he spoke about the past and present vis-à-vis the issue. Here are excerpts of the interview.
You served in Mandya and Mysuru region for quite some time. In the context of this Cauvery agitation, what can you share with us?
In 1977, I went to Mandya as deputy commissioner. Shortly after that an agitation broke out which was perhaps the longest in Karnataka’s history. It was a three month-long agitation over division of water between Mysuru and Mandya. Remember, these were two districts within a state fighting over water. What I noticed was utter lack of canal water management. There is a similarity between Mandya and Punjab. In Punjab, I had noticed canals used to be closed for six months during when the authorities would take up repair work. This was not the case in Mandya, partly because drinking water requirement would be met with canal water. On seeing this, I wrote a letter to the then Superintending Engineer Ghulam Ahmed. He came down to take stock of the situation. Three of us-me, Mr Ahmed, executive engineer and Mr Siddappa-walked from the tail end till KRS in knee deep water. After inspecting the canal, we decided to overhaul them. Later World Bank came forward to fund this work. One thing I noticed in Mandya was there is no concept of water management, it is just flood irrigation.
The other aspect I noticed was: farmers were consuming so much ammonium sulphate- the highest in any district in Karnataka in flooded fields). Long term damage was severe. I went to so many people but no one listened to me. I think that situation is continuing.
You spoke about the Varuna agitation. What happened later?
It was quite a serious agitation which went on for three months. Ultimately the election came and the agitation merged with the poll fight.
Who won the battle?
In a sense Mysuru won because, Devraj Urs won the elections, came back to power and got the Varuna canal constructed because
Varuna was his baby.
You spoke about the need for water management in Karnataka. There is one more actor in this dispute, Tamil Nadu. How do you view the inter-state river dispute?
Our inter-state water dispute is not the only one before the Supreme Court or the Centre. There is a water dispute between Gujarat and MP and Punjab and Haryana. There are international disputes. Rivers like Danube flows through so many countries in Europe. The international law of riparian rights is something we should look at.
As I said earlier, this problem is not going to go away. We have to see it in the context of global warming, uncertainty in climate and rainfall. The key is proper water management, a proper system of irrigation in Mandya or Tanjavur or the Godavari delta. Flood irrigation is a wasteful system. It cannot go on for very long.
You spoke about water management. What do you mean by it?
One has to adopt a different mode of cultivation like SRI (system of rice intensification) method, which was popularised by a Cornell University professor. If you use this method, water for paddy cultivation can be cut down by half. I am associated with a NGO, Agriculture, Man and Ecology Foundation. We are working in villages in Dharwad and Dharmapuri where water consumption for rice cultivation is at 50 per cent of the normal. Secondly, the agricultural practices in Mandya date back to the fifties and sixties when A strong extension system worked. There is no one now to tell farmers about the new methods in sugarcane and paddy cultivation. Depending on the weather forecast, one has to change the crops. Cultivation of millets is as profitable as paddy.We need a change of mindset, a bandh is not the solution.
In the early nineties, then chief minister, S. Bangarappa promulgated an ordinance leading to a constitutional crisis. This led to large-scale violence in Bengaluru. In hindsight, do you think Bangarappa’s decision was disastrous for relations between the two states?
I don’t know the exact nature of the decision he took. But, there was an agitation in Bengaluru, there was violence. This doesn’t help anyone. These are issues which should be settled rationally and not emotionally.
In the context of bitter relations, do you think there is scope for talks?
There is always scope for talks. Don’t say there is no scope. Parties have to be ready for talks. There is no other way. When the tribunal said states should sit down and try to work out(a solution), we should try hard.
Is it because of votes that leaders won’t go for talks?
I am not sure what leaders think. But, people get carried away by emotions. There was no response to the bandh in Karavali districts. Whatever happens in Mandya has no bearing on voting patterns in Vijayapura or Koppal.
How do you think this issue would work out politically in Tamil Nadu?
I really do not know. But it has a 1000-year history in TN. Britishers forced us to accept their judgement and in the process we did not have a say in having equitable distribution of water. Injustice was done to Karnataka. Since there is uncertainty over rainfall, I feel we have to go for proper water management.
