Voices have been raised against the proposal of railway lines in Cauvery river basin in recent times.
What is its importance?
The Cauvery basin drains an area of about 81,000 sq. km across three states and a union territory.
The river originates in Kodagu district while it irrigates agricultural fields, generates electricity, and provides drinking water to downstream communities across south India.
The Cauvery and its tributaries contribute the bulk of water to the Krishna Raja Sagara dam which is the primary water source for Bengaluru.
But the proposed Mega railway projects are not only economically unviable but also ecologically damaging.
It poses a clear threat to the long-term water security of the three States that depend on the Cauvery.
What are the major implications?
Ecological - All the tracks will cut through large swaths of agricultural farms and fields as well as Protected and Reserve Forests.
These areas are spread across Kodagu and Mangaluru districts of Karnataka and Wayanad and Kannur districts of Kerala.
In its feasibility report of the Mysuru-Thalassery line, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation stated that the project would not be beneficial to the State.
With the protests by the people against the project, the plan to build the line was scrapped.
However, plans to build the tracks will re-emerge in time sooner or later.
Forest cover - India State of Forests report 2017 noted that Kodagu lost 102 sq. km. of tree cover in just two years.
The recent proposal might result in forest-depletion in the Kodagu basin that will have reduced capacity to capture and store rainwater.
Raised railway tracks will also impede wildlife and could result in the deaths of endangered animals such as elephants.
What should be done?
Studies by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology have found evidence for increasingly variable monsoon rainfall in the Kodagu basin.
A recent study has revealed that activities like construction, illegal mining and hill cutting are increasingly responsible for the uptick in fatal landslides, particularly in Asia.
This makes preserving forest cover more vital in order to mitigate the collateral effects of these extreme events.
A UN report, Water for a Sustainable World, pointed out that the gap between the availability of water and our need for water is only going to increase.
The journal Nature has reported that diminished access to water resources increases the risk of social unrest, political instability, intensified refugee flows and armed conflicts even within borders.
The variable nature of monsoons makes India one of the most vulnerable regions to water-related disasters associated with climate change and extreme weather events.
Hence, preserving existing forests in the Cauvery watershed can reduce the effect of floods and droughts, while recharging groundwater.
Economists should estimate the monetary and human cost of cities and implement policies focused on achieving and maintaining sustainable water resources.
Good water governance of the nation’s watersheds will be key to its sustainable future.
Hence, protecting the Cauvery’s source is essential for the sustained well-being of the entire basin.
