State has asked Centre to delink Bengaluru from Malnad in the weather map to counter Tamil Nadu’s claims over Cauvery water during summer. Centre has reportedly agreed in principle but will it stop the water wars?
After repeated setbacks in its legal battle with Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water-sharing issue, Karnataka has now decided to realign its meteorological zones and break the rain-rich Malnad region from the water-deprived areas such as Bengaluru and Mandya. It has written to the Centre to either club the Malnad region with the Coastal zone or have it as a separate meteorological zone.
The state currently has three meteorological zones—Coastal, North-Interior and South-Interior. Malnad falls in the South-Interior zone. If all goes as per plan, Karnataka may soon have four zones.
Being the largest consumer of Cauvery water, Bengaluru has been at the receiving end every time Tamil Nadu approaches the Supreme Court for water. Though Karnataka pleaded that the Cauvery catchment area received inadequate rainfall, Tamil Nadu succeeded in countering the argument with rainfall data from the entire South-Interior Karnataka. Unfortunately, Bengaluru and other southern districts such as Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru (that actually form the catchment of Cauvery) were clubbed with rain-heavy Malnad areas such as Hassan, Shivamogga and Chikkamgaluru, under the meteorological divisions.
While the Bengaluru and adjoining districts received less rainfall, the Malnad areas that never drain into the Cauvery received the highest rainfall. As the meteorological division clubbed all the districts, the rainfall loss in Cauvery catchment was covered by Malnad areas and using the same data, Tamil Nadu presented its argument before the Supreme Court. “If you look at the date from South-Interior Karnataka, the rainfall appeared to be above normal. But in reality, the Cauvery catchment districts were left high and dry,” said a senior official from the irrigation department.
This has made Karnataka write to the Centre, seeking a realignment of the meteorological division. Confirming the move, GS Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), told Bangalore Mirror that a few days ago, through the state government, they had written to the Centre on this issue.
“It is a well-known fact that the Malnad region receives the highest rainfall every year. But all these districts are clubbed together with other Bayaluseeme districts (Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Chitradurga and Kolar) as South-Interior Karnataka. While the rainfall crosses more than 3,000 mm in Malnad area, the other districts in Bayaluseeme actually receive less than 500- 700 mm,” said Reddy, adding that just because a few districts nearby receive the highest rainfall, Tamil Nadu shouldn’t use it as an excuse to demand for more water.
Sources confirmed that the Centre has responded positively and is currently examining the proposal by the state government to rejig its meteorological zones. In fact, in 2016-17, even the Malnad areas received inadequate rain. Several taluks in the Malnad areas have been declared drought-stricken by the state government.
http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/the-malnad-check-met/articleshow/58795891.cms
After repeated setbacks in its legal battle with Tamil Nadu on the Cauvery water-sharing issue, Karnataka has now decided to realign its meteorological zones and break the rain-rich Malnad region from the water-deprived areas such as Bengaluru and Mandya. It has written to the Centre to either club the Malnad region with the Coastal zone or have it as a separate meteorological zone.
The state currently has three meteorological zones—Coastal, North-Interior and South-Interior. Malnad falls in the South-Interior zone. If all goes as per plan, Karnataka may soon have four zones.
Being the largest consumer of Cauvery water, Bengaluru has been at the receiving end every time Tamil Nadu approaches the Supreme Court for water. Though Karnataka pleaded that the Cauvery catchment area received inadequate rainfall, Tamil Nadu succeeded in countering the argument with rainfall data from the entire South-Interior Karnataka. Unfortunately, Bengaluru and other southern districts such as Kolar, Mandya, Mysuru (that actually form the catchment of Cauvery) were clubbed with rain-heavy Malnad areas such as Hassan, Shivamogga and Chikkamgaluru, under the meteorological divisions.
While the Bengaluru and adjoining districts received less rainfall, the Malnad areas that never drain into the Cauvery received the highest rainfall. As the meteorological division clubbed all the districts, the rainfall loss in Cauvery catchment was covered by Malnad areas and using the same data, Tamil Nadu presented its argument before the Supreme Court. “If you look at the date from South-Interior Karnataka, the rainfall appeared to be above normal. But in reality, the Cauvery catchment districts were left high and dry,” said a senior official from the irrigation department.
This has made Karnataka write to the Centre, seeking a realignment of the meteorological division. Confirming the move, GS Srinivasa Reddy, Director, Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre (KSNDMC), told Bangalore Mirror that a few days ago, through the state government, they had written to the Centre on this issue.
“It is a well-known fact that the Malnad region receives the highest rainfall every year. But all these districts are clubbed together with other Bayaluseeme districts (Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Mandya, Mysuru, Chitradurga and Kolar) as South-Interior Karnataka. While the rainfall crosses more than 3,000 mm in Malnad area, the other districts in Bayaluseeme actually receive less than 500- 700 mm,” said Reddy, adding that just because a few districts nearby receive the highest rainfall, Tamil Nadu shouldn’t use it as an excuse to demand for more water.
Sources confirmed that the Centre has responded positively and is currently examining the proposal by the state government to rejig its meteorological zones. In fact, in 2016-17, even the Malnad areas received inadequate rain. Several taluks in the Malnad areas have been declared drought-stricken by the state government.
http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/cover-story/the-malnad-check-met/articleshow/58795891.cms
