[CA] Cauvery River Row: How arguments made by TN, Karnataka and Centre in SC?

[On April 09, 2018 Supreme Court directed the Centre to frame the draft Cauvery scheme by May 03, 2018 and prove its bona fide resolve to end the 200 year old dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu]

Centre: We are unable to frame the Cauvery draft water sharing scheme within the May 03 deadline given by the apex court as Prime Minister and Ministers are busy in Karnataka elections. So the apex court must hear the case, a day after the Karnataka elections.

CJI: But you (centre) not supposed to frame the draft scheme…. The scheme should have been finalized by now

Centre: We are in a difficult position… we are only asking for 10 days

CJI (to Karnataka): To take instructions on whether it could release 4 tmcft to Tamil Nadu in May 2018

Tamil Nadu: Though Cauvery tribunal had ordered the release of 2.5 tmcft each for April and May, Karnataka had released only 1..1 tmcft in April

CJI: Even though the States have no role to play in finalizing the scheme, Karnataka should have released the water as per the order of the tribunal to prove its bona fide

Tamil Nadu: Centre is adopting a “brazen attitude” and “playing politics” to favour its party’s fortune in the Karnataka State, instead of fulfilling its duty

CJI: Centre has a “responsibility to frame the scheme”

Tamil Nadu: Centre is worried about their electoral fate in Karnataka. The centre does not want to frame the scheme before May 12. If you [Supreme Court] allow this to happen, there will be nothing left on the rule of law and co-operative federalism

Tamil Nadu: What do we tell the people of Tamil Nadu? That the Supreme Court passed its judgment in Feb 2018 and we have still not been able to get water. Summer temperatures are rising.. there is no drinking water… it is time for you [Supreme Court] to call a spade a spade

Tamil Nadu to Centre: In earlier hearing, you [Centre] said that “everything was ready” with the scheme

Tamil Nadu: The attorney general made the statement in the Supreme Court. Do we not believe him now? Do we not get water? Why this step-motherly treatment to us now? We cannot be at the mercy of the Central Government.

CJI: Water allotment would be less in summer. The tribunal had fixed the quota, which we had only reduced by 4 TMC. The water released has to be proportionate to rainfall, irrigation etc… That is why a scheme is needed

CJI to Tamil Nadu: We assure you that the state would get indeed get water.

CJI to Karnataka: (in stern voice) State must release water

Karnataka: State had already released water in excess to Tamil Nadu

CJI to Karnataka: You have to urgently release water or face the consequences

CJI to centre: You must respond to us on May 08, 2018 about what steps the Centre has taken so fat to frame the scheme

Tamil Nadu: They [the Centre] will dilly-dally.. this is too serious an issue

CJI: Well it is only one or two days before Tuesday… we will see

Case adjourned to May 08, 2018

[CA] ADB gives $100 million to Tamil Nadu

ADB gives $100 million to Tamil Nadu

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have signed a $100 million (Rs. 670 crore) loan agreement to strengthen key irrigation and drainage system and improve water management in the Vennar sub-basin of the Cauvery delta in Tamil Nadu.

Details:

·       The financing will be used to strengthen embankments of six major irrigation water channels in the Vennar system and rehabilitate 13 irrigation pumping schemes.

·       The project aims to improve existing infrastructure and will provide flood protection and renewed access to irrigation.

·       The loan will support Tamil Nadu’s water resources professionals to manage resources better, and with greater involvement of the stakeholders they service.

·       Communities will be involved in planning and delivery of water services. Flood forecasting and warning systems will be installed and a flood risks map drawn up to help communities respond more effectively to extreme events.

·       The ADB officials signed a financing agreement with the Government of India and also signed a separate project agreement with officials of the Tamil Nadu government in New Delhi (on Jul 14, 2016). The total project cost is estimated at $144 million, with the State government pooling in $44 million.

·       Tamil Nadu’s Water Resources Department will be responsible for implementing the project which is expected to be completed in 2020. The Tamil Nadu government had sought financing from ADB to upgrade the irrigation systems in the region.

·       The project will run through six rivers in the districts of Thanjavur and Nagapattinam and involves resectioning of Pandavayar, Velleiyar, Harichandranadi, Adappar, Valvanar and Vedaranyam Canal and desilting of riverbeds as well.

·       The project seeks to protect coastal districts from cyclones and flooding that are aggravated by climate change, have a climate-resilient water management system, better flood risk management and improved irrigation infrastructure.

·       Nearly 11,000 hectares and over 3.35 lakh households will face a reduced risk of flooding over the next 25 years once the project is implemented, as per the bank’s initial environmental examination that was completed in December 2015. A distribution and poverty analysis done by the bank estimated the bulk of the net benefits of the upgraded systems will go to the small farmers (58%) and marginal farmers (42%). While no land acquisition is required for the project, nearly 12,887 persons will have to be resettled.

Background:

The Cauvery river basin is a critical source of water for agriculture, both within Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states. The vast majority of the delta’s population is engaged in farming and fishing.

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[Geog-India] Shale Gas

Shale Gas in India

 

Synopsis:

(01) Introduction

(02) Why shale gas not a priority in India?

(03) What are the benefits of Shale gas?

(04) Distribution of Shale gas in India

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(01) Introduction:

·        Shale gas is natural gas formed from being trapped within shale formations.

·        Shale gas—an “unconventional” source of methane, like coal-bed gas (in coal seams) and tight gas (trapped in rock formations)

·        It is Colourless, odourless, lighter than air.

·        In Europe shale gas is not used because of green rules and limited property rights. But In America, use of Shale Gas has already started and In future, it will give a spur to the domestic manufacture of anything needing large amounts of energy.

·        Colourless, odourless, lighter than air.

·        Just like Coalbed methane locked in coal seams

·        Shale gas is a Natural gas trapped within shale rock formations in sedimentary basins.

·        ONGC, OIL, GAIL exploring these sites.

·        Subject falls under Director General of Hydrocarbans (DGH)

·        MoU between USA, and India for technical knowledge sharing

(02) Why shale gas not a priority in India?:

·        Difficult to store and transport

·        Shale gas too requires hydraulic fracking method for extraction. Therefore creates following problems

Hydraulic Fracking Needs	India’s Problem
Large Area	Land Acquisition
	Environment Clearance
Large Water Supply	Shortage
Fluid Viscosity Agent	Guar gum too costly. India is largest producer of Guar gum. But due to heavy imports from US shalegas companies, its prices have increased by ten times within a year. Thus shortage for domestic industry- who cannot keep up with the prices offered by Americans.

(03) What are the benefits of Shale gas?:

·        Gas based power plants are cheaper than coal based thermal power plants.

·        Cleaner than coal-  generates 50% less Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

·        Cheaper + clean = better than Nuclear and solar energy, which are quite expensive.

·        Can heat homes and industrial boilers, can run buses and lorries. (experimental basis)

·        Petrochemical industry can convert it into plastics, fertilizer and other useful stuff.

·        Gas power stations are relatively cheap to build, beating nuclear power hands down in terms of capital costs, and in most cases they are also less expensive than renewable.

(04) Distribution of Shale gas in India:

·        Cambay Basin

·        Assam-Arakan

·        Gondwana

·        Krishna-Godavari basin

·        Kaveri basin and

·        the Indo-Gangetic plain

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