Kannada organisations urge government of Karnataka to speed up water swap treaty with Maharashtra

Karnataka government has accepted the proposal in principle. However, irrigation engineers have pointed out a practical problem that seems to make implementation difficult.

Kannada organisations have urged the Karnataka government to speed up the proposed water swap treaty with neighbouring Maharashtra to find a permanent solution to the problem of water scarcity in both the States.

The treaty proposed by Maharashtra in 2016 aims at exchanging water between States rather than paying for water released from reservoirs from one State to another.

As of now, Karnataka gets around four tmcft of water on an annual average from dams in Maharashtra during the summer months. This is used for drinking water supply. Karnataka Irrigation Department pays Maharashtra for this non-monsoon season water.

Maharashtra has suggested that Karnataka release a similar quantum of water to the drier districts in south-eastern Maharashtra. Once that happens, there would be no need for payment, their officials explain.

Karnataka government has accepted the proposal in principle. However, irrigation engineers have pointed out a practical problem that seems to make implementation difficult.

They argue that a canal network is needed to carry water from the Tubachi-Babaleshwar lift irrigation scheme in Vijayapura district of Karnataka to areas like Jatt taluk in Maharashtra. The network could cost up to ₹500 crore. They want Maharashtra to either take up construction of the network, or pay Karnataka for the same.

Another suggestion is that Maharashtra build a mini-reservoir to impound water for emergency release.