Things that aren't measured well can't be managed well: Dr VS Prakash

Bengaluru: Karnataka has the densest rainfall monitoring mechanism in South Asia with 6,000 rain gauges installed across the State but unfortunately the data from these rain gauges is not being considered in presenting a scientific report on water availability in the Cauvery basin to either the Central Water Commission (CWC) or the Cauvery Monitoring Committee (CMC) for a fair assessment on distress water sharing among the states, especially Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, said Dr V.S. Prakash, former special director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre.

“The data presented before these authorities is sketchy and collected from among the 300 rain gauges, which have been installed by the India
Meteorological Department (IMD) whereas the data from the 6,000 rain gauges that were installed with the Central government aid of Rs 150 crores between 2001 and 2014 is not being put to use to either understand the ground reality in the Cauvery basin or get an insight into the vulnerability and risk patterns in the distress water sharing process,” he said, while adding that things that are not measured well cannot be managed well.

Speaking to this newspaper Dr Prakash, who is presently advisor to the IIIT-B, said that the two states must use science and technology to come out with a scientific solution on sharing of Cauvery water that will monitor, simulate and make prognosis of the hydrological regime on a systematic basis.

“In 2013 we had successfully developed a hydrological forecast, which had helped in managing a similar situation that time. There was rain in the command area below the KRS and the stipulated flow of water as directed by the Supreme Court was realized without opening the reservoir gates in Karnataka,” said the noted hydrologist.

State must plead its case with facts
Bengaluru: A day before the crucial meeting of the Cauvery Supervisory Committee meeting in New Delhi, former law minister S. Suresh Kumar and former water resources minister Basavaraj Bommai appealed to the state government to work meticulously to convince Committee members as well as the Supreme Court after the state filed an application seeking modification of the apex court order on release of water to TN. Speaking to reporters, Mr Suresh Kumar said, “This is the last and best chance for the state to plead its case. The state should plead its case with facts and figures before both these bodies.”