Does the award satisfy the needs of the four riparian States?
The need as indicated by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka go beyond 1,000 tmc ft. If Kerala’s and Puducherry’s requirements are taken into account, it will exceed 1,200 tmc ft. But water availability is only 740 tmc ft at 50 per cent dependability. How to make good the deficit? Since this dispute has been raging for more than 30 years, no improvement by way of modernisation in the delta, such as the lining of canals and improvement in conveyance, estimated at Rs.1,000 crores, could be planned and executed because financial institutions could not help us. Rs.1,000 crores for Tamil Nadu? Yes, at least Rs.1,000 crores for Tamil Nadu alone. Now that the final award has been given, modernisation is possible. It will mean saving a considerable quantity of water. Secondly, 2,000 tmc ft of water is being wasted because it falls into the Arabian sea from the Karnataka side. A part of it can be utilised for augmenting the river water supply. Thirdly, inter-linking of peninsular rivers is possible. By us
